Meting Katrina

Disclaimer: No, I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean (characters, plot, dialogue, etc.). Any other tid-bits of creativity, however, are mine… in which I hope you will enjoy.

Author's Note: Alright… this here is the beginning… so-to-speak… of the Katrina series. Please read and review! I really want to know what you think of this before I add on… thank you!

Port Royal

"Stupid blighter," Jack Sparrow grumbled as he walked off the gangplank onto the dock into town, the ties of his red bandana flying about with his hair in the wind, "Told me we was headin' for Port-au-Prince, but instead we're 'ere in Port Royal. Not a very lively li'l place, is it? What good could possibly come out o' Port Royal? It's not like they 'ave a-"

Jack stopped before a worn out building, his eyes wide in surprise, "Oh! A pub! They actually have one!"

Without a second thought, Jack entered the bar more than ready to down a few bottles of rum.

"Need t' regroup and think," Jack talked to himself as he took a swig of the rum, "How am I t' get to Tortuga now? Barbossa will be long gone wi' me ship again by the time I reach the bloody island!"

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By the next morning, Jack woke up to an alarming headache from the constant sound of metal clashing against metal.

"What the 'ell?" Jack moaned, a hand to his head.

As he reluctantly opened his eyes, Jack observed that he wasn't in the pub but instead in a pile of hay in an isolated corner of some shop. Slowly the pirate got to his feet, the continuous banging of metal ringing deep in his ears.

"What's that horrible noise comin' from?" Jack groaned as he looked about.

Finally, after a few hesitant steps forward to peer around the corner of what would be some sort of stone fireplace, Jack found the source of the unbearable noise.

"Who in their right mind draws swords at this time o' day?" Jack hissed bitterly as he watched the two figures attacking and retrieving among the open space of the shop.

Jack did his best to set his mind straight as he focused in on the two people.

"Must be the owner's son," Jack shrugged as he watched the young man duel, "Bit o' a show-off. Could easily beat 'im at his own game."

After watching the young man for another moment or two, Jack turned to his opponent.

"Well, what do we 'ave 'ere?" Sparrow mused quietly as he saw that it was a young lady fighting back, "Hmm… not bad, love, not bad at all."

Jack continued to look on at the young woman with great interest, watching her every move as she combated with the sword.

"Miss Banks!" a sudden call rang out from a woman entering the shop, "Miss Banks!"

"Yes, Dana?" the young woman said, having stopped the sword fight.

"Your father's on his way!" the maid warned.

"Oh, no!" the young lady cried, "Thank you, Dana!"

At once the young man threw the swords they were using far off to the side. He then began working on a sword that was partially in the fire. The young woman stood very close, observing with great detail what it was he was doing. Then, within a few minute's time, a great, tall man stepped entered the shop.

"Katrina!" Jack watched the older man call out to the young woman.

"Katrina," Jack mouthed the woman's name silently to himself.

"How many times must I have to remind you not to stand so close when observing Will at work?"

"Oh, sorry, father," Katrina replied timidly as she quickly obeyed her father and stepped a few feet away from the fire.

"Look at you," Mr. Banks tsked, "You're now drenched in sweat because you didn't listen to me when you first came here."

"I apologize, father," Katrina repeated, "You know how I find Will's ability to create a sword fascinating."

Jack couldn't help but to chuckle to himself, "What a clever girl!"

"Yes, Katrina," Mr. Banks sighed, "But you know better… I'm sure of it."

Katrina merely nodded her head in a sheepish manner.

"Now, say good-bye so that we may be on our way home. I'll be with the carriage waiting outside."

With that said, Mr. Banks and Dana left the blacksmith's shop.

"Yes, father," Katrina said, before turning to the young man, "Thank you for letting me observe your work, Will."

Will laughed, "Of course, Katrina. So… I guess you'll be up for another practice later this week?"

"Thursday if that's alright with you?"

"Not a problem," Will laughed again, "Oh, and please pay my regards to Elizabeth."

"Naturally," Katrina grinned, "Until Thursday!"

After Katrina exited, Jack turned around in search of an exit for himself without having to cross paths with the blacksmith. Noticing a back door, Jack made his way out into the sunlit cobblestone streets.

"Alright," Jack mumbled to himself, ignoring a tiny creeping of stirring down within him, "Now t' see if I can barter a passage t' a port a bit closer t' Tortuga."

As Jack eyed the magnificent Navy ships docked in the bay he began to long for his beloved Black Pearl, "Bloody Barbossa."