KITG: okay, this is my first Pirate fic. So bare with me please.

Disclaimer: I don't own jack (though I wish I did) or any of the POC gang. So don't make me walk the plank…. I mean sue me.

The Code of friendship.

The darkness of night kept its shroud over the sea, the moonless night aiding the ships passage. The black ship with its black sails billowing in the light sea breeze as she watched her Captain departing on the longboat to shore. The lights of Port Royal were dim in the distance as the town slumbered, unaware that a pirate was returning. The Black Pearl was lost to the darkness as all aboard her doused the lamps. She was undetectable, the calm sea making nair a ripple against her black hull, her sails looking akin to the dark clouds that sailed across the sky.

Captain Jack Sparrow was returning to this port not for his health, for he was wanted here for piracy. Port Royal was a British navel port, so Jack might as well call the undertaker if he was coming here for his health. No, he had come to catch up on an old friend….and steal a key that was to open the chest of Qezacotl the was supposed to contain treasure beyond your wildest dream….but that was neither here nor there. Quick pop into the pawnbrokers who had the key…which he didn't even know was a key… borrow it, then go and see one William Turner.

The long boat reached the dock, Jack bounded off with his usual flair, the pirate always light on his feet, but also giving the false impression that he was always drunk.

"Al' right lads. You sit 'ere with the boat while I go and get the key. Savvy?" Jack waved his hand around, pointing where he was going in a vague direction when he said key then pointing to the boat when he told them to stay. As if he was talking to a young child not a grown man, though being a grown man did not mean you had brains.

"You goin' to get the gold Cap'ain?" one of the men asked, he had the fingers on one hand missing, which made rowing a bit of a challenge. But you took what you could get, after all Jack went through crew quicker than rum….well almost quicker than rum.

"No, I'm going to get the key that opens the chest that holds the gold, after seeing a blacksmith." Jack explained. His braids blowing in the slight breeze that picked up over the sea. His body swaying as he explained each point of his plan.

"But why a blacksmith? Why do we 'ave to bother with the key or the blacksmith? Why not get a Locksmith? Then we could go straight to the chest that holds the gold"

"But if we take a locksmith to the chest without the key, the chest would be stupid. Because a lock without a key is just a lock, so the locksmith wouldn't be able to open it. So we need the key to have a locksmith to open the lock to the chest with the gold in. Savvy?" Jack turned and swaggered up the dock, not seeing the cross-eyed look of his men. While they tried to count the point off on their fingers, one failing miserably when he realised he only had four fingers. His other hand having none.

Jack walked through the town like he owned it, heading to the pawnbrokers. The lamps inside the store were off as to be expected, outside, the three brass balls on a chain swung in the wind. The universal sign of the pawnbrokers throughout the known world. He went up to the door, getting ready to pick the lock. He placed the well looked after lock pick into the lock, turned it and heard a "ping". He smiled as he leaned against the door….but it didn't open. He looked down to see the lock pick was broken

"Bugger" he murmured to the wind. He grabbed the handle of the door, trying to shake it open. But only succeeded in making a racket that had him ducking down the ally beside the store so he wouldn't be caught. He sighed, leaning against the wall…that wasn't a wall but the back door to the pawnbrokers. The next thing he knew he was falling backwards, rolling and drawing out his sword ready for an attack. Well the hilt of his sword anyway. The blade had stubbornly decided to stay in the scabbard.

"Bugger!"

8888888

The clang of metal against metal rang out through the night like every night before. The heat from the furnace heating the air even before the closed door, creating a wall of warmth that the weary travelers could warm themselves by. The hammering continued as the blacksmith practiced his wares, his only reason for living these days. Around him were countless swords all crafted by his hand. But away from the rest, kept safe in a wooden box was his best sword. The box lid had a symbol upon it. A sunrise over the sea, with a bird flying before it. Under this, in perfect calligraphy was the initials JS.

The Sword inside was a work of art greater than he had made for Commodore Norrinton, again on the blade, just under the hilt was the initials JS. Perfectly balanced. But it was the hilt he was most proud of. Gold thread over the handle, the hilt the head and body of a bird, the wings folding back in gold as the hand guard. Nestled safe in the bird's claws was a black pearl.

It had been made by one William Turner, son of the pirate Bootstrap bill. And loyal friend of Captain Jack Sparrow. Will stopped what he was doing for a moment, looking out over the dark sea. Oh how he wished to leave this place, but he had lost the will to do so. He laughed; Jack would hardly recognize the man he had become. He looked sickly now. His time in prison had made sure of that, courtesy of Commodore Norrinton.

The feel of cold steel at his throat brought the present back to him, he sighed not moving from where he stood.

"Take what you want and go"

"What if a want yer life?" came a voice achingly familiar, that was broken by the clatter of steel hitting cobbled floor as his blade separated from the hilt. "Bugger"

Jack threw the now useless hilt over his shoulder, making it land with a clatter somewhere in the back of the workshop. Then he turned to his friend with his usual swagger and smile….only for it to fall when he truly saw him.

"What's the matter Will? You look bloody awful!"

"Good to see you too Jack" Will smiled, same old Jack. He hadn't seen the pirate for about 2 years now. He sat down on the bed.

"Honestly Will Lad, you look like you been starved to death" Jack crouched before Will, making him lock eyes with the pirate. He could see Will sunken eyes and gaunt face.

"Near enough" Will replied, looking into the glowing coals of the forge

"Come on, tell dear ole Jack" Will looked undecided a moment, before he decided that he had nothing to loose.

"Norrinton locked me up, went off with my wife and child. Left me to rot" Will sighed. Jack stood there, eyes wide like he had just seen the Black Pearl spontaneously combust right before him with all his rum on board.

"What did Elizabeth say about that?"

"I think it was her idea Jack, not many luxuries as the wife of a Blacksmith" Will laughed.

"But she left with ye lad? That whore!" Jack kicked a bucket nearby. It flew back, the water sloshing out over the floor. Will spared a surprise look at Jack, he actually sounded mad. He looked it too, Will had never seen Jack actually mad, annoyed yes, which he would disguise with his fake drunk persona. But mad like he looked now, like if he saw Elizabeth and Norrinton he would kill them.

"Yeah, they have gone back to England, while I was locked up for aiding the escape of a pirate, stealing a ship of the navy, assaulting a Commodore"

"You hit him? Good on ya lad" Jack clapped him on the back "Yer coming with me will my boy" Jack mad a move to the door, but then noticing the Will hadn't moved. "Come on Will, come on boy" he called, patting his leg like calling a dog.

"I can't Jack" Will laughed at his friend. "This place is watched, I work for his majesties armory. I make all the swords for the garrison. As many as I can as quick as I can so I can eat. If they decide to feed me" Will walked slowly to the window, pointing out. Jack looked seeing the guards patrolling the parameter.

"They did you over good, that they did" Jack looked back to will as the young man eased himself into his chair.

"It is good to see you Jack, but you had better go. Don't want the next time I see you to be you swinging from the hangman's noose. But I have a gift for you. Look in the box atop the beam" Jack looked up to where he had fought with will so long ago, to see a long wooden box sat on one of the beams. He climbed up, grabbed the box then jumped back down. He placed the box on the floor, looking into wills eyes when he saw the carved symbol on the box. His tattoo. Will nodded, so Jack opened the box.

Will smiled as he saw Jack's eyes go as big as plates. He slowly lifted the sword out the box, the black scabbard glinting in the firelight. He took in all the detail, and anyone could see it was made for non other than Captain Jack Sparrow.

"Will lad.." Jack seemed gob smacked.

"One of the last ones I made before all this happened. The rest of these are low grade, break after a few battles." Will seemed disgusted with the swords he made now, quality lost for quantity. Will's headshot up as Jack became all movement. Putting the sword back in the box and closing it before putting his arm round will.

"Come on Will," he guided him to the door.

"But Jack"

"I am not leaving you ere lad" there was such finality to the voice that Will knew he couldn't argue.

Jack eased open the door to the blacksmiths while Will gathered a few things; he grabbed some clothes, some sentimental items. And his own sword, with the initials of WT on its blade the only distinguishing mark. The two comrades steeled into the night, Jack thinking it were too easy. Jack shouted, the two of them ran to the dock, the men in the boat still trying to figure out what their Captain had said to them before.

"Captain! Did you get the locksmith?" Jack sat in the boat blinking at his men

"Wha?"

"Well you said you needed the key so the locksmith could open the chest"

"Jaaack" Will warned, seeing the guards coming closer.

"We have the key so we don't need the lock smith, So ROW!" Jack exclaimed.

"So we need the key to open the chest?"

"YES!"

"Oh….back to the pearl then?"

"If it's not too much trouble" Jack replied pleasantly, while looking for something hard to hit the crewman with.

"No trouble at all Captain.." They began to row from the dock back to the pearl, the gentle swirl sound as the oars parted the water to give the longboat thrust to move in the sea. In the Distance the Black Pearl lit a solitary lamp to call her Captain home. The bells in the town were being rung, but none would be able to catch the Pearl once she opened her sails to the wind. She was the fastest ship on the sea, a breed apart from those made today.

The Long boat was pulled aboard with the large block and tackles, the men running the rope to pull the boat up with all speed. Mr Gibbs was directing the men to open the sails and to head out to open sea. Those who knew Will looked on shocked at his appearance, no longer the strong locksmith. But a thin weakened man, skin and bone.

"What you staring at you rats? Get on with it" Jack shouted at the men, they jumped to life, running into each other as they went about their business. Jack guided Will to the Captains cabin, setting the poor man on the bed before reaching for the rum. Will looked exhausted as he breathed heavily.

"Easy there lad, welcome home," Jack said to him gently, as will slipped off to sleep.

TBC……

KITG: well there is the first chapter for you. This is Dedicated to my Hikari, You know who you are.