Disclaimer: I do not and never will own POTC

A/n—it seems POTC is growing on me, for this will be my third fic on this topic. Funny how that works, but anyways, here's the beginning of trouble!

Part One

There was no way in hell she was going to marry that slime ball! He didn't deserve to be married, even if it was to her. Clearly her father didn't watch her when they walked the streets together! He was the worst for harassing her in the street! And now she had to marry him? She didn't think so.

She paced in the room at the inn. Her rich merchant father had gone down to play some cards, leaving her on the verge of tears. Well. She wasn't going to stand for it! She tossed her long coal-brown hair over her shoulder, but the unruly locks still fell into her face. She scowled at the wavy tendrils for a moment, and then whirled around to go and root through her trunk. She tossed various articles of clothing on her bed, and soon came across a knife. It joined the rumpled pile. Then she produced a pistol. But it wasn't just any gun.

It was solid silver, and it held nine shots. It was one of only two of its style. Her brother had been the smith, but disappeared as soon as he had handed the second to her. The other was hidden in her fathers' things. She knew exactly where.

She'd have to grab it before she left.

She slipped out of her nightgown and pulled on the loose, black trousers. Then looked at the mounds on her chest. They weren't a physical trait that men had, normally. She went back to the trunk and tore up some old, white skirts to bind her chest with.

With that accomplished, she tugged on the blue tunic and once again returned to the trunk, to hunt for some boots. After those were tied in place on their proper feet, she stood and looked in a mirror. She grinned evilly. Who'd've thought her brothers clothes would fit her so well! She tied a dark green sash about her hips, which was soon joined by her knife belt. She stuck the gun in the sash, and then sat to think about her hair. The long, black tresses fell to her waist. She drew her knife and carefully starting cutting it away. Hair grows back, she kept telling herself. Hair grows back.

She wasn't bald when she finished, but she certainly wasn't very feminine. It was boy-short, except for a ponytail she thought might look good. She tied another dark green sash around her head that had a silver chain with sea-colored jewels on it. Now all she was missing was a hat, a proper sword, and the second silver pistol.

All of which should be in her fathers' quarters.

She checked the mirror one last time before she left. She had to admit, she could pull off the pirate look, though she would need some kohl for her eyes. Making those burning blue orbs less girly was crucial. She didn't want to look like a pretty boy. Maybe her father would have some of that too. The man was the biggest packrat she had ever seen, after all.

OoOoOoO

The trip to her fathers' rooms was uneventful, except for when she had to jump out the window because of the drunk mans sudden entering. But she got what she came for, and then some. As she had thought, the kohl had been there, in an expensive looking tin. And if someone leaves gold lying around, they don't normally want it, right? She just hoped he didn't notice until the morning, because she needed to get out of the city before he started to hunt for her.

She slunk through the streets of Port Royal, still meeting no opposition. The city was true to its name, incredibly boring.

On the docks, she paused. "Now, how to get to Tortuga?"

OoOoOoO

Jack watched the brawl around him with dieing interest. For some reason, Tortuga never changed. It was rather irritating to see the same things every single time she visited, though the women never got boring. He took a sip of his rum. That's right, a sip. He had even grown bored of the bitter alcohol that he loved more than life itself!

He looked over at Gibbs and asked, " 'Ow many?"

"With that one?" Gibbs looked away form the armless man and down at his paper. "One."

"Good start." Of course, he didn't mean it. He was just keeping up the 'happy Jack act'.

They were definitely going to be there for a while.

OoOoOoO

Someone in the sky must have really loved her that night, for she found a rum shipment to Tortugas the Faithful Bride. How anything in Tortuga could be faithful was beyond her, nor would she ever bother asking.

Of course, the captain wanted money, and a name. Now, she didn't know many gentlemen running around by the name of Sapphire. She hadn't bothered thinking when asked. If she wore her bothers clothes, surely he wouldn't mind her borrowing his name?

She was now officially Azrunn Smith, and heading for a pirate sanctuary.

A/n—if you've never read my fanfic's before, you should know my chapters are rather short. Okay? Review please!