A/N: Hello people. Here you are...an AU COTBP fic in which Jack finds Will instead and Elizabeth gets stuck with them due to a series of events. A lot of banter, jealousy, adventure and a love triangle ensues. Sound familiar?

Well this is the Prologue and the real story will kick off in the next chapter. I also tried out a little special style just for this chapter. Enjoy!

Read and review please.


"Don't I get a pistol with one shot?" Jack asked calmly. Not turning away from the sea as he stood on the plank.

"He's right gents give him his gun," Barbossa ordered with a laugh.

Jack would try his illogical logic on him but he knew it was no use.

"Nice knowing you Jack."

Jack shot him a smirk. He promised it wasn't the last they'd be seeing of him before he dived into the Caribbean.

3 days later...

Jack finished off another bottle of rum as the ship neared the island and hoped the rum runners wouldn't be too angry about the few missing bottles of rum. Even if they were he was Captain Jack Sparrow and he would talk it out with them.

He thereby considered himself saved.

1 year later...

Captain Jack Sparrow was -not for the first time- glad to see a wrecked ship. No gun could cause such damage except the Pearl's.

That bastard Barbossa was somewhere close by and it worried him because if the stories were true -and oddly enough they were true most of the time- he'd been looking for the last medallion. What if he'd found it? That would ruin all of Jack's plans...

There was no wind carrying the dinghy and so he rowed for a bit until he was amongst the drifting pieces of wood.

At last he saw a young lad, the only survivor adrift in the middle of the ocean. Pulling him on board he noticed-with an arrogant confident smile- that he was wearing exactly what he needed. He had extraordinary luck...as always.

As his eyelids fluttered open Jack grinned and held out his hand. "Captain Jack Sparrow son. Friend and associate of your father's? How are you this fine afternoon?"

The boy's scream was muffled by Jack's already extended hand and his amused chuckle. The boy was quite a stick in the mud. He would have to change that.


"Yo ho! Yo ho! A pirate's life for me," Elizabeth sang before Gibbs stopped her.

"Quiet, missy! Cursed pirates sail these waters. You don't want to bring them down on us, now, do ya?" Mr Gibbs bickered.

"Mr. Gibbs that will do," the young Lieutenant ordered.


When the boy passed out again Jack saw a silhouette of a ship and a lot of shouting about pirates and longboats. He was thankful for the fog which he now rowed into. A soft voice sang in his head...it was strange but he could've sworn he'd heard a pirate shanty come through the fog seconds before.


Elizabeth escaped to a corner of the ship where she wouldn't be in the way of the running about sailors so she could catch her breath. And she gasped in shock as she saw a ship disappearing into the fog, a ship with a pirate flag. She had to close her eyes and open them again. The Jolly Roger was still there and Elizabeth watched with horror as it turned and grinned at her.

6 months later...

Will smiled as a shot rang through the cave and cut his hand, letting the medallion drop to the chest.

Barbossa's body hit the ground and Jack came to view. The older pirate saluted him with a meaningful smile and young Will Turner smiled back.

1 year and 6 months later...

Elizabeth shut the book she was reading as someone entered the room. She let out her breath when she saw her maid coming in.

"Oh Sarah it's only you," she said as she opened the book again and read it in the light coming from the fireplace.

"Sorry to frighten you miss but it's about time you went to bed."

"Just a few more minutes Sarah. It's getting quite fascinating. I just finished the chapter where he lifts the curse of Cortez from the Aztec gold to get his ship back and now he's sacking all of Port Royal without even firing a shot! It's all absolutely breathtaking."

"That pirate again. Jack Sparrow," Sarah shook her head as she added another log to the fire. "Miss Elizabeth I don't think your father would approve of you filling your head with such stories when there are so many useful things you could read."

"But look! The man is a genius. He even--"

"Dear, these are just stories made up by people to make a criminal look more interesting. The stories...they're all exaggerated!"

"But I saw a ship with black sails! I saw it two years ago on our crossing from England."

"Now now dear. It was just your imagination. And one of these days they'll catch that Jack Sparkes fellow--"

"It's Captain Jack Sparrow Sarah!"

"Yes well, when they do catch him you'll see how wrong you were. He's probably some old hag who couldn't fire a shot if he wanted to. I'm not saying he doesn't exist but all these warrants and awards for his arrests are just a big fuss and a good excuse for those pirate hunters to loiter about."

Elizabeth continued reading the book as she answered. "Well James told me he was hoping to catch him and that means he is of some -if not more- importance."

"Well Lt.Norrington makes it his business bring every criminal to justice. Big or small."

"Indeed," Elizabeth nodded absent mindedly as she flipped through the book and the old woman brushed her hair.

"Now miss your father told me to treat you like my own daughter and I must say you simply can't read that book anymore."

Elizabeth held the book away as Sarah reached for it. She smiled in good nature. "You wouldn't want to see me unhappy would you Sarah?"

"No Elizabeth but I do insist on--"

Finally she snatched the book from the young girl and before Elizabeth could make a move she threw it in the fire.

"No! Oh Sarah how could you?! We must get it out immediately," she said in a high pitched voice as she watched the book burn in fire. Sarah took her by the hand and led her to the bed.

"Now you're a young woman Elizabeth. It's time you got your head out of the clouds and got back to what's real. They are no curses and no Aztec gold."

Elizabeth didn't say anything and waited until she heard the door close until she hurried over to the fireplace and grabbed what was left of the book from the ashes. It was gone for the most part except for the last page which contained a few lines about a curse and a voodoo woman. Elizabeth didn't care any longer, she threw the remains back in the fire and decided it was time to grow up.

She went back to bed.

6 months later...

Jack grinned as Pintel and Ragetti pulled out the dead man's chest.

Will raised an eyebrow. "It does exist."

"Of course it does. What do you take me for? A liar?"

"Well--"

"Oh shut it," Jack ordered tiredly. "Hmmm. I doubt Davy will find out about this little incident. Now all we need is the key."

Young Will seemed excited. "We have to climb aboard the Flying Dutchman and--"

"We don't have to do anything. We have all the time in the world," Jack said. "As a matter of fact we're ahead of schedule. What do you say to a little treasure hunt in Tripoli?"

"But Jack what about--"

"I thought so. Back to the longboats," he ordered as he put his hat back on. "Don't forget to bring my heart."

6 months later...

Elizabeth smiled politely at a passing Navy general and mouthed: "How do you do?"

"Elizabeth?"

She turned to find James Norrington by her side. "Lt. Norrington! I've been deprived of the pleasure of your company for far too long."

He stared at her with disbelief. "You've grown into the most beautiful young lady."

She smiled. "You're too kind Lieutenant."

"Not at all. Not at all," Norrington assured her with a stunned look. "Call me James."

"And what, if you don't mind me asking, has been keeping you occupied for the last year?" She asked as she fanned herself and they walked across the ball room.

"I'm not sure it would interest a lady of your standing but I was chasing outlaws off the coast of Tripoli."

"Oh?" Elizabeth feigned interest.

"Yes, yes. Jack Sparrow and his crew of criminals," Norrington said absently as he bowed to a passing lady.

"Oh?!" Elizabeth perked up a bit. "And did you catch him?"

"I would've it wasn't for the terrible storm."

"Oh," Elizabeth acknowledged. "And is he as notorious as they say?"

"Nothing too hard to handle. But he's quite lucky...That storm." Norrington shook his head.

"How brave of you James," Elizabeth said sweetly. She didn't want to seem too interested in the subject of pirates.

"Just doing my duty. Those pirates I tell you, they all deserve a hanging," he said as he took her hand in his.

She smiled. "Yes, they all deserve a hanging."

How could she have ever thought otherwise?

A calm sense of belonging overcame her as James Norrington led her along the room. She laughed delicately at a joke she didn't find particularly funny.

5 years later...

Elizabeth bolted straight and shook her head. In her sleep she'd seen gone back to her journey from England when she'd thought she'd seen a pirate ship. It had all been a bad dream. It had to have been. She didn't believe in fantasy stories anymore.

Immediately there were knocks on the door and a couple of maids burst in to help her prepare for the big day. Norrington's promotion ceremony. The man her father wanted her to marry. And really who else would she dream of marrying? There were no men except for him who she could bring herself to spend time with. And yet she didn't want marry him, didn't love him.

She held her breath as her maid tightened the corset which according to her father was the 'fashion' in London. The feeling that today would be the day she would have to decide about her future wouldn't leave her.

She dreaded everything that was about to happen even thought she knew she should have been happy.


"Would you mind remind me...why Port Royal of all places Jack? For the hundredth time Port Royal has--"

"The strongest Navy power in the Caribbean," Jack finished for Will. "I've heard it enough times William. Thank you. Now may I remind you that--"

"You're Captain Jack Sparrow? Heard it enough times. Thank you," Will joked. Jack rolled his eyes. The boy had certainly took after him even if he was still quite tight laced and honorable at times.

"For your information Master Turner. Port Royal happens to be the closest port with the best possible ships, we need another ship and might I add it is where Tia Dalma told us to go and so we shall go."

Will couldn't argue further so he complained about their current state instead. "This is madness Jack. Couldn't we just row a boat like normal people--erm pirates?"

As a matter of fact they were deep in the ocean with a boat over their heads to make an air pocket.

"You seem to forget that I'm one of the most wanted heads in all of the Caribbean. Now remember no matter what happens you don't commit a crime because--"

"If you get caught I have to help you escape. I've done this before."

"I'm very well aware of that fact lad but you can't seem to get through the day without doing something incredibly--"

"Stupid!" They both finished together. Jack sighed in frustration and pulled a puppy dog face and Will laughed.

When they neared the dock, they swam out from underneath the boat and sneaked away.

"Oi! You there. Stop," the dock master shouted. Will froze afraid they'd been recognized but Jack merely turned around with a smile.

"I'll need your names please and a shilling for the boat."

They all looked back at the boat which was still upside down.

"What d'you say to three shillings and we forget the names?"

"Welcome to Port Royal Mr. Smith," he nodded to Jack. "Mr. John," he nodded to Will.

"Oh my isn't that the new ship everyone's been raving about?" Will pointed to the Interceptor. The dock master turned around,nodded and Jack pocketed the three shillings he'd just gave him.

"We must be off!" Jack announced. Not forgetting to pocket the little sack of money on his way.

10 minutes later...

Jack and Will -with skilled collaborated efforts- were sitting in the Interceptor with two of the dumbest Navy soldiers they'd ever met.

"I think he's telling the truth," one of them said.

"But if he were telling the truth he wouldn't have told it to you," Will reasoned with them.

"Unless he knew you wouldn't believe the truth even if he told it to you," Jack added.

They'd never seen a more confused looking bunch in their lives.


Elizabeth fanned herself as Commodore Norrington led her towards the fort. Why was she suddenly finding it so hard to breathe? She hoped it was James taking her breath away but it seemed to have more to do with her corset.

"You looked lovely today Elizabeth."

"Thank you. You too," she said without thinking. The sun, it was just too bright and too hot and too much. And her fan wasn't working well. Why wasn't it working well? And James kept moving before her eyes. Why wouldn't he stand still?

"...and what I'm trying to say is that I really admire you. I have something to ask Elizabeth--"

"Yes, yes I'd love to James," she assured him absent mindedly.

"You would? But you haven't even heard my--"

"Yes, yes I'm absolutely positive," she said between gasps. "As a matter of fact--Oh my! I can't breathe."

Norrington was looking out at sea. "I'm flattered Elizabeth. I'm quite ecstatic myself--Elizabeth!" She'd fell right off the fort.

He screamed after her as he took his coat off.

"Sir! The rocks! It's a miracle she missed them."

They were all running down from the fort to save Elizabeth.


"Will you be saving her then?"

"I can't swim!" said one. He looked at the other who stared back.

"I'll save her," Will volunteered.

"Tsk! Tsk! Can't let you do that William, that would be doing something incredibly stupid. Do me a favor champ...Do not lose my effects."

He handed him the effects and jumped after her.It took him a second or two to adjust to the salt in the water but sure enough he could see clearly enough to see the girl sink to the bottom of the ocean. He made his way to to the her and took her in his arms.If it weren't for the obvious danger the picture would almost be beautiful. Clear blue water, a girl floating with her dress and hair spread around her.

They popped out of the water but were dragged down by a wait. He immediately stripped her of the heavy dress and with the dead wight gone they were at the dock in no time.

"She's not breathing," Will said as he helped him bring her on the dock.

"Way to state the obvious," Jack muttered. "Get out of my way."

He took out his pocket knife and tore her corset. She turned, spat out a good amount of water and Jack let go of a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"Never would've thought of that."

"You've obviously never been to Singapore," he muttered.

"On your feet!" A man in a funny wig ordered. Bugger! He should have known from the dress that she was important. This was where the funny bit began.

He exchanged a knowing look with Will who nodded.

3 minutes later...

He had the girl pressed against him and a satisfied smile plastered on his face.

"Miss Swann if you'd be so kind," he said as he turned her around. He looked at the wig guy over her shoulder who looked slightly uncomfortable. Jack made it his duty to give him a smile that said "I bet you've never been this close to her". The girl was quite pretty for sure.

"You're despicable," she whispered.

"Tell me something I haven't heard love. I saved your life and here you are saving mine...I do regret the circumstances under which we met but alas! Gentlemen," he called out to them. "M'lady," he whispered in her ear "you will always remember this as the day that you almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow!"

He shot Will a warning look before he flew to the air and told him without words that he had to get out of there before he got noticed.

2 minutes later...

Jack pressed his back against the wall and held his breath as a few soldiers ran by. Will who had been following them ducked into the alley and hid beside Jack. They did a victory handshake and ran into the blacksmith shop on the opposite side.

Jack looked around. "Bugger! Whoever made all of these swords needs a life and a girl."

Will nodded. "Truer words never spoken. Who would ever want to spend time making swords?"

Jack wiped an imaginary tear from the corner of his eye. "I raised him well Bootstrap. I raised him well."

Will rolled his eyes as he looked for a weapon to cut the shackles for him.

1 minute later...

"Now we need a plan to get out of here," Will said after they got rid of the shackles.

Jack grinned.

"Augh! You have a plan don't you."

Jack grinned even wider.

"Are you planning on commandeering a ship?"

Jack frowned disapprovingly. "Would my plan be so simple? It's like you don't know me at all. The dock will be well armed after that escape...We need leverage."

"Leverage?"

"Aye, leverage."

30 seconds later...

Elizabeth was more angry than scared. Absolutely furious that she'd been held hostage by anyone...let alone Jack Sparrow who wasn't an old hag after all.

"Elizabeth get in the carriage," her father said as he wrapped the coat around her.

"He got away father! You must not let him get away."

"Commodore Norrington will take care of that. Let us get you to the house."

"I assure you. He will not get out of this harbor unless I allow him to myself. Which means never," Norrington assured them. "Send more men to search every corner of this town that needs be searched and lock down every dock."

"Aye sir!"

Elizabeth watched the array of red couts from the window as they drove off. Secretly excited about the events and what was yet to come.


So what did you think of the Prologue? Drop a word. The first chapter will be posted in the next couple of days depending on reviews.

A little spoiler, the next chapter includes a kidnapping, a very angry Norrington and a rather odd hat!