Disclaimer: Sha…I own nothing of Pirates of the Caribbean. I wish I did. But I don't. I do own the OC and The Merry Melody though, so nyah! Thank you for reading!

Jack's Melody

Chap. 1: Tortuga

White lightning soared down, crashing against the peak of a black, angry wave. Large sprays of water shot into the air, soaking the captain of The Merry Melody. The captain smiled and spun the helm with vigor. The first mate came running, his eyes screaming his frenzy.

"Captain, we have to drop canvas! These winds are too much!"

Another crash of thunder broke the skies, and lightning formed a tree of white light in the raging sea.

"Drop canvas? Nay, sir! With this gale we'll be in Tortuga so much faster," the captain let out a laugh and spun the helm again, smiling wildly, "And if said canvases are ruined, we'll just…buy some more!"

"How do we afford that?" The first mate yelled, attempting to be heard over the storm.

"We sell the first mate, of course!" Laughter erupted from the captain as the first mate stumbled out of shock…and from the horridly rocking ship. "To Tortuga!"

Tortuga at night was bustling, loud, drunken, and full of loose chickens.

Jack Sparrow made his way down a dirty alley, swaying and flailing his hands about, while singing to himself.

"Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirate's life for me…"

"Jack! 'Ello, Jack!" A half-drunken prostitute, normal in the streets of Tortuga, swaggered out in front of the captain. "Jack it's been too long, 'eart!" She leaned against him, stumbling slightly.

"Oh…Hum…" Jack looked up, and then about, pausing. He couldn't remember her name for the life of him.

"You 'aven't forgotten my name, now 'ave you, Jack?" She shook the bottle in her hand and smiled at him, her painted face melting with the humidity of the evening.

"Captain Jack Sparrow never forgets a name, love."

Just as the forgetful pirate was ready to recite names a man came swooping out of a door in the alley way, wrapped his arms around the woman, and danced her away. Jack let out a sigh of relief, happy to avoid a good slapping and went about his way to the tavern. The tavern was crowded and loud, and as usual there was a fight going on. Likely over spilled ale or rum or possibly a lady of the evening. Jack stepped over the arms of a flailing drunk and headed straight for the bar.

"Tender!" Jack flipped back the tail of his weathered coat and sat down on a stool. The tender avoided being drenched in a thrown mug of rum and went over to his customer.

"Ah, Jack. It's been a while since I've seen you here." The tender came back to him with a bottle of rum, and the captain took hold of it before he could set it down. "I guessed you'd be back sooner than this, what's happened?"

Jack took a long swig and sighed. "Not much that I can speak of, Barnaby. I'm out of my personal stash as it were, and I'll be takin' five more o' these bottles, if ye don't mind."

Barnaby nodded and set the bottles in front of Jack. "You're running me dry, Jack, you are." He paused and stared at the pirate for a moment. "You will be paying me this time…right?"

"Of course, Barnaby," Jack laughed and set down the now empty bottle. "I wouldn't think of leaving without paying you!"

The tender turned away as a mug came careening past him and smashed into the back wall. He picked up the mug and turned back to the bar. "…Aye, Jack. But that's what you said last time before skipping out on your bill. I mean it this time, Jack, you have to..." He looked up to see that he was speaking to no one. "Damn it, Jack!"

The docks were a in a rage this evening, everyone was running about in a frenzy over something going on at the end of port. A most interesting ship was docked there and everyone was gathered around it, crowding a stand set up on the walkway.

"Aye, come on! If ye like what ye see, buy it! Special prices for this day only!" The man's voice carried far and gathered passers-by like fruit gathers flies. The man smiled at the crowd he was dragging in and held up an ancient gold and green medallion.

"Look here," he said while shaking the ornament, "It was found at the bottom o' the ocean! Believed to be a piece of the lost city of Atlantis!" A few people started scoffing at this and he held it up again. "Not to mention that it's a lovely piece! Sure to woo the heart of any lady!" At this bids started in and the selling began.

The Merry Melody was a well known merchant ship…of sorts. A galleon crewed by pirates, and under the law of the dread captain so ironically named Jolly Rodger. They were merchants that dealt in rare and often plundered items. The Melody traveled everywhere that one could go in a ship. She was weathered and well-traveled, but lovely and her character was endless. She was captained by a cartographer and she collected many things on her travels.

"I see ye have yer eye on a special piece, lass!" The sailor bent down near a woman eyeing a fine collection of silks. "Fine silks of the orient and in perfect condition. Hand-made and compared to other fabrics this is a very fine price, miss."

"Specially crafted swords, inlaid in gold if you'll look at the blade, from Spain." He said to another person, who was eyeing a masterfully crafted set of weaponry.

The day carried on much like that until the goods were gone and the salesman had put all of the profits in a pouch. He gathered up what was left and headed up the ramp to the ship. He stopped next to another of his mates and shook the coin pouch.

"We made a hell of a profit today! Listen to that will ye?" He laughed and looked at the sights of Tortuga. "It's no problem sellin' such here. But I have a feeling Port Royale won't be so easy. That naval fort being thar and all…"

The sailor nodded and pointed towards the cabin of the ship. "Yarr…the captain's downstairs in the galley if ye be in need." He nodded towards the pouch. "Jolly Rodger'll be happy to hear o' the profits, aye. Ye did a good job, Henry."

Henry smiled and let the sailor get back to his work. He then headed off into the galley. The galley was of average size and smelled of potatoes and cooking. He looked around but saw no one except for a pile of peeled potatoes. He traveled down the wooden halls, while the scent of seawater drifted in and mixed with the potatoes for a curious aroma. He stopped and knocked on the door to his right, the captain's quarters.

"Aye?" A voice answered from inside the room. "Come in."

Henry opened the door and stepped into the room. The captain sat at an old wooden desk, working with parchment, a quill, and a compass. Notes were strewn across the desk and a melting candle was reaching the point of no return.

"Captain, I brought the profits." Henry sat the pouch down on the desk and stepped back. "We made more than usual here. I always thought Singapore was our best place for selling loot, but Tortuga was worth the storm." The first mate of The Merry Melody let out a laugh.

"Didn't have to sell you after all did we, Henry?" The captain smirked, never rising from the map. "Go buy the crew a round of drinks. Wait, make that three rounds of drinks…"

The captain took some coins out of the bag and dropped them into the first mate's palm, along with a ring.

"Eh? What's this?" Henry looked closely at the ring. It was a simple golden band, and a bird was engraved on the inside. "I've never seen it."

"I know." The captain looked up from the map. "Find someone who deals in the trade of jewelry or the sort and sell it."

"Aye, aye," Henry nodded, raising an eyebrow. "Aren't you coming, captain?"

"Nay, sir," The captain went back to work on the map. "I've got a map to make…I have no business in the nights of Tortuga."

Hope you enjoyed it. I would really love it if I got plenty of reviews, I'll settle for two or three! Please, tell me what you liked or didn't like, and how it can be made better. I owe thanks to my Jake for being a grammar Nazi, he edits out all of my horrid spelling and grammar mistakes. I'll post the next chapter a.s.a.p. But I need reviews first!