This is written as the start of Joan/Vick's voyage. The entire fanfic takes place during the year between Curse of the Black Pearl and Dead Man's Chest, and was written to coincide with Little Chiyo's own Keep a Weather Eye on the Horizon.

Chapter One: By the Setting Sun

Joan by name, but she hardly lived up to it. Her hair was a pale blonde, rare and soft, that hung around her waist and made her gray eyes seem terribly dull. In some ways, she could befit her name merely in appearance. Her family insisted that it stay long, that it be feminine and appropriate for a girl of her age. She could read between the lines though: "So you don't shame us." But they were doing just fine a job of that, themselves. With each dinner party, she was introduced to a middle aged man who would insist she dance with them and later in the evening propose. She'd decline and leave the room, perfectly aware that this was all an attempt by her parents to return to a higher social standing.

With each rejection, her parents grew more and more impatient with her. And now she was more than aware of their intentions. She had become a disappointment to them, and she had failed in getting them a fortune with each bachelor she was introduced to. So now, they had made a deal with Lord Cutler Beckett and had decided to sell her into slavery. They didn't realize she knew, clever as she could be, and she spoke with one of the boys that worked in the stables.

"Your clothes look as if they're in need of mending and I've need of something to pass my time. Find a change of clothing and I'll fix them up for you." Obviously the thought of nice, warm, clothes made the lad, only a few years younger than herself, gleeful and he ran off quickly. Within the hour he returned and handed a wrapped bundle to her. Smiling, she went inside and up to her rooms, locking the door. She immediately got to work mending them, cutting fabric from her own clothes to fix a few holes and line the inside. Once that was done, later into the evening, Joan changed into the boys clothes and looked over herself in her mirror, frowning.

She quickly pulled the shirt off and dug through her drawers, certain she had some bandages in there. Growing up, she'd cut herself to many times that her maids just kept a few rolls of them in her room so she could get it wrapped quickly. And, thankfully, one dusty roll of bandages lay in the back of her drawer. The young woman wasted no time wrapping then around her chest. Her breathing was constricted but when she pulled the shirt back over her head and glanced at her reflection, she looked just like a boy of sixteen aside from her hair. This task she took particular glee in.

Her mirror was pulled close to her bed and she sat on the edge so her hair was positioned beside the dummy she had formed under her blankets. And then, she took a knife and cut it short like a mans. Some of her hair was still long, so she took a hold of her sewing scissors and started trimming. Her hair was terribly cut, amateur, but in the end what mattered was that she look like a boy. And she did. All she needed now were leather boots, a gun and a sword. The weapons would be easy enough to collect once she found a ship to stowaway on but it might seem suspicious if she were running around without boots. A glance out her window showed that the sun was setting still. Given an hour or two, she could sneak out of her room and downstairs where she could find boots that some of the servants of the house kept by the door. And then she'd be free.

In the mean time, she sat at her desk and took her quill. She stared at a blank sheet of paper for the longest time before she dipped it into her ink well and started writing:

"Mother, Father,

Likely by the time you read this I will have gone. You may think me insipid, naïve, but I became aware of your intentions to sell me through the East India Trading Company. I could not allow this. As much love as I have for you both, I can't let your schemes for wealth place my wellbeing at risk.

You'll not find me so don't waste your time searching. Perhaps our paths will cross one day but for your sake, I should hope not.

Your daughter,

Joan Lawrence

She folded the letter neatly, placing her wax seal on it before placing it carefully on top of the letter. There was nothing here she wanted to take with. She could take some of her jewelry to sell but then the shop owner would be able to identify who sold it to them. Joan could leave no trails, lest she be hauled back and beaten.

Once the sun was down, and the sounds of the house had all but silenced, she unlocked her door and quietly crept down the stairs to the foyer. There were a couple pairs of boots near the door, in horrible shape, but they would do. Trying on the first pair, she was pleased to find they fit, so it took her no time at all to sneak outside and down the path to the gate. Joan took one last glance at the house before climbing over it and running to the docks. There were several ships in port, so she chose one that the lights were still lit onboard and climbed on, looking for the captains cabin. Most the other crew had gone to sleep but others remained on deck, watching the lad that made his way uncertainly to the door that their captain was behind.

She knocked firmly, gathering her wits before coming face to face with an impossibly large man with a dark beard and eyes to match the sea. At his waist was a broadsword, a heavy weapon that only some of the strongest men could lift and use effectively. For a moment, she choked before taking a deep breath and addressing him, making an effort to sound like a boy.

"The hour is late, I know sir, but I need transport to Tortuga. I've nothing on me but the clothes on my back but I'm willing to learn your trade and help with work around the ship until you make port there." There were several laughs from behind her before the captain's sharp glare silenced them.

"What's yer name, lad?" He asked, his voice rough, a deep timbre but kindly. Joan was particularly pleased that she'd pulled off her disguise.

"Vick, sir. Vick Graves." The captain laughed heartily before clapping her on the back.

"Welcome aboard then, Vick Graves!"