A/N Here it is! The first chapter of the second installment of my POTC fan-fiction! Please read and review. The first chapter is a little short because I want to build suspense and mystery and get you guys glued! I hope you like it and want to know MORE! Believe me there's a whole lot more! As I've said before, the second and third ones have a more evolved Maria than the first one. I've done more character development on her and her story in these. So enough rambling. Xoxo JTD

Maria ran from the docks in a rush. It was pouring down rain. She nearly slipped and fell in the water. She was frantic. She needed to find him. She needed to go back to the way things were. She stopped and looked around, getting her bearings. It had only been a few weeks – or at least she thought – since she had left Port Royal, but today everything looked different. And the rain was no help at all. She passed two dock workers walking. They said something about the governor's daughter's wedding being ruined by the rain. 'What?' Maria thought. 'Elizabeth is getting married?'

Maria quickly ran to the fort, through the rain, splashing her feet in numerous puddles on the way. When she reached the fort, she saw sheet music, soaking, blowing away in the wet wind. Ornately decorated tables, set for a celebration, ruined by the rain. She saw wet, empty chairs facing whom she assumed was Elizabeth, kneeling at the altar. Elizabeth as dressed in a gold wedding gown. Maria frowned. Elizabeth detested that color on Maria because it was too gaudy. Yet here she was in a fancy gown and Maria was dressed in a simple long muslin skirt, a flowing white blouse and a black corset around her waist. She hadn't worn a gown since the day before she left Port Royal.

Elizabeth was alone. No one else seemed to be around. She caught her breath and began to make her way toward Elizabeth. Then she heard the clanging of chains. She stopped and quickly hid behind a pillar. A group of men had appeared with a prisoner. She watched as Elizabeth stood up and ran to the group that had gathered behind her under the archway.

Maria's heart dropped to her stomach.

Several British officers had Will in shackles. He was dressed in his finest outfit and wearing a quite fancy hat. Maria felt the bile rise in her throat. The rain had interrupted Elizabeth's wedding to Will. Elizabeth was supposed to marry Will on this day. Maria watched with disgust as they embraced under the archway. Maria crept closer as more British officers gathered under the archway. Governor Swan came running with concern begging to know the meaning of having Will in chains. A short officer wearing royal blue overcoat stepped forward.

"I believe I can answer that."

"Cutler Beckett?" Governor Swan asked.

"It's Lord now actually."

Beckett put out his hands and another officer handed him leather-bound documents. Maria watched with intense curiosity.

"Here is a warrant for the arrest of Mister William Turner."

Beckett handed the warrant to the governor.

"This one is for Maria Cortez!"

Maria made sure she was well hidden behind the pillar.

"Oh, sorry, my mistake. Here's the right one."

He handed the governor another leather-bound document.

"On what charges?" Elizabeth demanded.

"I also have one here for a James Norrington. Is he present?"

"Commodore Norrington resigned his post some time ago. And I'm afraid Ms. Cortez has disappeared from Port Royal."

"Very well then. Ms. Swan shall take her place by proxy. That is until we find her."

"You can't do that!" Will shouted.

It was mere weeks ago he was getting that flared up about Maria. It hurt.

"What are the charges?"

"Now can any one tell me where Jack Sparrow is?"

"Captain!" Will shouted. "Captain Jack Sparrow."

"Ah. So you do know him? Now would you care to answer my question."

"With all do respect, Lord Beckett, in the category of questions not answered, we are under the jurisdiction of the King's governor of Port Royal and you will tell us what we are charged with," Will demanded.

His jaw was tightened. Maria sighed at how beautiful he looked angry. She turned her attention back to the situation at hand.

"Consorting with a pirate and freeing said pirate from his intended sentence for which the punishment is..." Governor Swan trailed off.

"For which the punishment regrettably is also death."

Maria gasped. She and Will had been sentenced to death for helping Jack. And Elizabeth would die in her place if they couldn't locate her. 'What had happened since I left?' Maria asked herself. As she watched Elizabeth and Will being taken to the prison, Maria quickly thought of a plan of action. In order to escape her fate, she must return to the Pearl. Her heart shuttered at the thought of leaving Will to die. 'Why hadn't he waited for me? Didn't she tell him what happened?' She looked down at the ring on her left finger. A million thoughts raced through her mind but there wasn't enough time to think them all through. She had to get out of Port Royal and fast.

Quickly, she darted back the way she came, trying hard to avoid any run-ins with soldiers or officers. She didn't want to be recognizes but considering her attire, that was unlikely. She raced down to the edge of the dock and hopped in the longboat she'd arrived in. She rowed away from the harbor as quickly as she could. Her arms aching, painfully. She prayed the Pearl would be docked where she'd left it – waiting in open sea for its captain to return from an errand. She hoped that Jack would return soon enough to help free Will and...Elizabeth too.