A.N. - Okay, so my first foray into fanfiction other than the Labyrinth story I'm currently working on didn't go so well, so I deleted it. The funny thing is that POTC stories were what got me interested in fanfiction in the first place, so it only seems fitting that I'm attempting my own now. This story takes place after the events of On Stranger Tides and I'm trying to incorporate a more historically accurate feel to it, though there are embelleshments and fanciful additions. Hey, what POTC story would be without a bit of the supernatural in it, lol? Warning!: This story is a Jack/Elizabeth romance, and there have been parts of the canon that I've altered. Also, this story is rated M, just in case.

Nouvelle-Orleans

The island of Barataria, Louisiana – 1808

Samuel Rice felt blessed. He was a free man, and so were his wife and child. He was extremely grateful to the man who had freed him and brought him to Jean Lafitte. Now, Samuel's only concerns were keeping his family happy and his new job working to help unload Lafitte's ships that came in to port. As such, Samuel liked to be the first one up to greet the ships coming in. The sun rose with bursts of color, and despite the old saying, Samuel couldn't help but suck in a breath of air and be happy. As he opened his eyes again and took in the docks, that's when he saw it off in the distance. It was the strangest ship he'd ever seen. The hull was painted black with red trim and the sails were also red, but they weren't standard sails at all. No, they looked like fins, with poles interspersing the fabric. Samuel stared in fascination, wondering just where this exotic ship had come from. Realizing that perhaps Lafitte should know of this development, he raced to the bungalows.

Jean Lafitte was dreaming of beautiful women, or perhaps mounds of gold, but whatever the dream, it was a good one. Suddenly, he was awakened by a knock on his door. Grumbling, he got out of bed, still slightly tipsy from the previous evening's revelries. "What is it?" he called out as he pulled on his boots. Lafitte always slept in a shirt and trousers, refusing to be unprepared for a swift getaway.

"Captain, there's a foreign ship pulling in!"

Instantly, Lafitte's drowsiness was gone. "Is it flying any colors?"

"Not that I could see, but it was still a ways out yet." Lafitte swore, pulling on his jacket, grabbing his weapons, and then rushing out the door to get his men up. Thankfully, most of the pirates were conditioned to sleep lightly. There were a few who needed extra prodding, but Lafitte left their waking in the hands of the other men.

As soon as everyone had gathered together, Lafitte headed for the docks. Once there, he saw what Samuel had been speaking of. He let out a low whistle. "That's no ship from these parts. Pierre, what do you make of it?"

Lafitte's brother took out his spyglass and focused in on the ship. Pierre gasped, putting his spyglass away quickly, sputtering out, "They're pirates! They have the arm and sword symbol on their flag, along with some strange letters. If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say they're from the Orient."

"The Orient?! Do you think they'll be attacking us?"

Pierre shook his head, saying, "No, it wouldn't make sense to come all this way, just to attack us. They must have business here in America and have heard of Barataria as a safe place to port." Lafitte nodded. His brother spoke with reason. As they watched the ship approach, he was trying to come up with any information he might have heard about ships in the Orient, or ship captains, for that matter. A decade or so back, the Pirate Lord of the Atlantic, Jocard, had left New Orleans in Lafitte's charge while Jocard did business up North in Canada. Jocard had spun a fanciful tale of the pirates of the Bretheren Court facing off against the East India Trading Company as well as Davy Jones himself. Jocard often told such stories, though, usually involving the island of Shipwreck and it's equally named city. And even though Lafitte had never been there, the tales carried on from his youth in St. Dominique made him listen to what Jocard had to say. Lafitte seemed to recall Jocard naming off other Pirate Lords, one of which was Sao Feng, Pirate Lord of the South China Sea. Perhaps this was Feng. Regardless, it was better to be prepared, so he sent some of his men to guard the docks, just in case. The ship finally came to a stop and the men on it's deck did seem to be from some part of Asia.

Nothing could have prepared Lafitte for what happened next. The captain of the ship began descending onto his dock, but it was a woman! The most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, in fact. She had long, light brown hair which curled slightly, and even though she had brown eyes, she was most definitely not from the Orient originally. She was young, and she was dressed in silks with a sword and pistols at her sides. Her mouth turned upward in a smirk when she came upon him and she said, "You must be Captain Jean Lafitte. I've heard much of you from Captain Jocard."

Her words snapped Lafitte out of the daze he was in. She sounded English. "That I am, but I believe you have the advantage of me. May I inquire as to who you are?"

"I am Captain Elizabeth Swann, Pirate Lord of the South China Sea, also known as the Pirate King of the Brethren Court."

Now that name, Lafitte had heard of. He nodded, bowing slightly, "Welcome to Barataria, Captain Swann. I have heard of you from Jocard, but I didn't realize you were so young. If you don't mind me asking, how exactly did you become the Pirate King?"

A grin broke out on her face, but Lafitte could also see a sadness fill her eyes. "Another Pirate Lord voted for me, which doesn't normally happen." Surprised, Lafitte raised his eyebrows, but it seemed the young woman wasn't going to embellish on the details. Nearby, Samuel was watching the two pirate captains converse, curious. He'd never seen a woman captain before. As if she knew he was gazing at her, she glanced his way and a small smile graced her face before she turned back to Lafitte, who was leading her to his bungalow. Samuel couldn't explain why, but he instantly liked the woman, not romantically, but more like a close friend. He followed behind them to see if he could offer his services.

"So, Captain Swann, what brings you all the way to America?"

"I've been tracking a man, a friend of mine, who may be in danger."

"Who is this man you seek?"

Elizabeth glanced around, replying lowly, "I can't say out in the open."

"Very well. Would you like a drink? We have an excellent selection of port."

Once they were inside his bungalow, Lafitte gestured to a seat at his small table, which Elizabeth sat down at. He began to pour a glass of wine, when there was a knock at the door. He opened the door to reveal Samuel standing there. "Sir, I was wondering if I could please be of assistance?"

"I'm not sure how, Samuel."

"Perhaps I could be the Lady's guide around the city, since you are busy?"

Lafitte stroked his goatee, then finally smiled. "I think that's an excellent idea! Why don't you come in and I'll introduce you to her."

They both walked over to the table. "Captain Swann, this is my loyal worker, Samuel. If you're going to be headed to New Orleans, I wish for this man to accompany you, as I will be too involved with my business to do so. He is the most trustworthy man I know."

Elizabeth's eyes flitted over Samuel, appraising him. Finally she nodded. "Very well, that is most generous of you. And since he is to be my guide in the city, I believe he should stay to hear what I have to say so that I don't have to repeat myself later."

"A sound idea. Now, who is this man you are trying to find?"

"Another pirate. Captain Sparrow."

"Captain Jack Sparrow?"

"The same." Now that was a name that Samuel had heard of, and strangely not due to his association with pirates. No, his relatives who lived in the Caribbean had spoken of this man in admiration. According to them, Captain Sparrow had freed a number of them, but in so doing he had been arrested. Samuel was even more interested in helping the woman captain now.

"Why would you want to find him? He's crazy, by all accounts, and he often only does things if they benefit him."

"Never-the-less, I have been charged with finding him. The Keeper has a task for him and since he wishes to see whether I can perform menial duties as King, I must see it through."

Lafitte mulled over her words, then said, "Of course, I understand. I am curious though; why do you believe Captain Sparrow is in New Orleans?"

"When the Keeper sent me to find him, there had been rumors of his being in Florida. After that, the trail went dead for several months. I holed up in Georgia for a while, visiting relatives who came to America some years ago. Then, a few weeks back, one of my contacts here in the States sent word that Captain Sparrow had been sighted in New Orleans. Having heard of the port from Jocard, I knew that this rumor might have some truth to it, especially since I've also heard that Captain Barbossa has gotten a hold of the Queen Anne's Revenge."

Lafitte whistled lowly at her last statement. "Yes, you're right," he commented. "If Captain Sparrow is laying low until Captain Barbossa sets his sights elsewhere, then New Orleans would be a good place to go."

Elizabeth nodded. "It's someplace that Barbossa wouldn't think him to go. Not to mention I've heard tell that Captain Sparrow also has Captain Teach's daughter to contend with."

Lafitte raised his eyebrows in surprise. "I didn't know Blackbeard had a daughter, but he was a bit of a womanizer."

"I'm hoping to find Captain Sparrow and take him back to Shipwreck myself, hopefully avoiding any potential enemies along the way. Where would you suggest that I start looking?"

"Start at my base of operations in the city, a blacksmith's shop called Les Dents Doré."

"The Golden Teeth?"

"Yes, a strange name for a blacksmith's shop, I know. My good friend, Castillon, owns the shop. Tell him Lafitte sent you and he'll help you if he can."

"Thank you, Captain Lafitte, you've been most generous in your assistance."

"You're quite welcome, Captain Swann. And please, keep me updated on your progress. I haven't had anything so interesting happen in a while. May all of you be safe on your journey."

Elizabeth thanked him again, then headed back towards her ship. She had had to play it safe, keep things close to the vest. She had not lied when she'd told Lafitte that Captain Teague had wanted Jack found, but she'd lied about the reasons for the search. Jack was in danger, of that she was sure of, and it was up to her to get him out of harm's way. She owed him, after all.