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AU: I do not own Pirates of the Carribean or anything affiliated with them, they are the property of Disney (really, what isn't these days?) And all rights belong to them.

Now, that aside, on with the show.

A Dream Within a Dream

Chapter One:

Waking Dreams

Had you asked either one of them how they had gotten to be in this situation, they would have simply shrugged with that far off gaze that told of too many lonely nights pondering that exact same question.

They had been the young age of 19 when they found themselves thrust into a world completely unlike their own. One day they were going about their normal lives, working at part time jobs and worrying about their next class or seeing that cute boy on the bus. Everything the way it should be.

But that had all changed rather quickly when they both awoke one morning in a filthy alleyway, far away from anything they could remotely call home.

Scared, confused and unsure of what was to come, they soon realized that they were in a different time and in a very different world...

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The stench of urine was almost overwhelming, mingled in with that of vomit and sheer body sweat, it was the first thing she noticed when her mind came to. She sniffed, feeling out her body and wondering why she was laying on such a hard, cold surface. Had she fallen off her bed? That's never happened before. Opening one hesitant green eye, she took in her blurred surrounds before jolting up and wincing as a soreness shot through her tight muscles. But she paid that no heed, unable to form coherent thoughts except for one phrase...

Where the hell was she?

All around her she could hear mummers and boastful laughing, muffled by distance or buildings. The cold surface she had been laying on was actually a very narrow stretch of cobble stone, wedged between two brick buildings and with a thick layer of caked on smoke and slime. The sky was dark, and what she could see from either side of the ally, the streets were warmly lit with soft glowing lanterns and whatever silver light the moon high above had to offer. She could hear the clicks of several boots and heels getting closer and fading away in the humid sticky air.

But none of this answered her question.

Where the HELL was she?

She glanced down at herself, still sitting up on her elbows and was surprised to see that she was still wearing the shirt she remembered going to bed in that night. A simple baggy black T-shirt about thigh length, nothing special. Her bright blonde curls were disheveled and fanned out around her, dirt and god knows what else clinging to the ends like she had been rolling around in a mud pit.

Sitting up fully now and pulling her legs up to her chin, she let her mind try and take everything in.

A dream. This had to be a complete and utter dream. She racked her brain, mindlessly listening to the clicks and gruff laughs that surrounded her. She vaguely noticed the sound of a horse and carriage as it trotted past the ally.

This was a dream, there was no other explanation. She was convinced, after all it did make sense. Last night her and a friend had gone to see the opening of Pirates of the Caribbean, the third installment. They had made an evening out of it; drooling over Jack and Will, dressing the part and even making a cake to look like the monkey, Jack. So of course her mind was making up this crazy dream to punish her for being so excessive and day dreaming about silly fictional characters. Yes, that was it. Nothing but a dream. After all, if she didn't know better, she would have thought she recognized these streets as-

"Sara?"

Had she been a cat, she would jumped fifty feet in the air with her tail puffed out at the call of her name. But lucky for her, she was not cat. Although maybe if she tried hard enough in this dream she could be.

Whipping her head around at the source of her name, she was stunned at the image running towards her. And not just because she was surprised anyone could run in this narrow of a space.

Her long time best friend, who conveniently enough had shared her pirate love that night, was rushing towards her with a wide eyed frantic expression. She had her strait black mid length hair whipping around her face as she ran, short bangs slicked back with sweat. Light blue eyes were wild with an emotion she couldn't quite place, but knew wasn't a good one. She was also bare foot, wearing a pair of small greyish blue boy shorts and a white tank top. Finally shaking out of it, she found her voice just as her friend reached her and grabbed her hands, pulling her up and into a rather tight hug.

"Rita?"

"I cant believe you're here too, but god damn am I glad you are. My heart nearly skipped a beat when I saw you a ways up from me." Rita shoved the words out of her mouth, almost like she wasn't sure if she could get the words out.

"Wow, this is one hell of a dream" she breathed out, just as Rita had pulled away to look her in the eyes. Sighing, Rita set her face into a very resolved mask and shook her head sadly, faintly reminding her of a mother trying to confirm to her nine year old son that his pet goldfish wasn't just playing dead.

"This is no dream Sara, trust me. I've been awake for about an hour and have been looking this place over. It's real. I had to run from so many damn pirates just to avoid being groped and possibly raped! I thought this was a dream when I woke up too, but this is no dream." Rita explained holding up her wrist to show a deep gouge by the wrist bone where it looked like she had fallen, blood collecting over the heart shaped tattoo she had gotten a little over a year ago.

She just stared at her long time friend, shock settling in and a cold feeling coming up to grip her throat.

As Rita rubbed she wrist absently and looked dead set into her eyes, she finally understood what emotion had been in her dear friends gaze because it was the same feeling currently claiming her own.

Horror.

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AU: well, what do you all think? I know these type of stories are over done, but im hoping to put a new twist on them. It so hard to find a well written, serious story with this kind of plot and I fully intend on fixing that! : not to worry though, there will be plenty of humor, I promise. This chapter was just rather serious because I hate how people usually don't give enough emotion to two girls suddenly being thrown into another world. Jack or no Jack, it would rightly scare the hell out of anyone.

This story will be written in both Rita's and Sara's POV, which will switch. But there will be a section off to warn you, so no worries. And if your wondering where I got the names, ask and you shall receive. There really quite clever you know. .

Please review, its what keeps me motivated. The next chapter will get into how they adapt to their new surroundings and maybe meet some special male characters? wink wink

thank you guys for reading! Reviews would be most wonderful!