Disclaimer: PotC and all its characters don't belong to me. Only the fictional characters I have created, Adora, Lorie ect do.

Authors Note : This is just a prologue, and so far, no Jack, or anything else from PotC is really evident. This chapter will properly be seen as boring, but don't worry cause things do pick up, starting from chapter two. So give it a chance, please?

Ocean Shadows

On my nineteenth birthday, I received my most precious gift. My father presented it to me in the morning, before all my other gifts. I knew it would be special, just because it was solely from him made it so. I tore away the coloured paper and gazed down at a black leather book, with silver writing embedded on it, spelling out my name; Adora Black.

I looked up with excitement. Daddy stood back smiling, standing the way he usually stood with his hands behind his back and, rocking on his heals like an old sea captain. Usually Mamma made him stop, claiming it made her nervous. Because daddy was the owner of a passenger ship and was on his ship so often, he said he spent more time on sea than on land and was use to rocking.

"What's that?" Lorie, my younger sister, asked when I flicked through its pages, finding on clean white paper.

"I call it a log book," Daddy said and winked at me. "Captain's log. Keep track of all the major events. Memories are more precious than jewels."

"It's just a diary," Momma said shaking her head. "Log book. Adora's a young woman, not a sailor." Daddy just laughed and winked again.

"Thank-you, Daddy," I whispered. "I'll write about you all the time."

Daddy was so right when he said memories are more precious than jewels.

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Holding fast to my small sister's hand, I gazed out over the graveyard. The day marked a year exactly, a year which had not gone well, a year which had tested the strengths of my small family.

One year had passed since Daddy's death.

Standing between my mother and my sister, Lorie, I bowed my head in respect to my late father, Troy Black, the man who had raised me, provided for me and loved me. It had been a year since I had been held in one of his hugs. A year since I had seen him smile and tell me how much he loved me. Beside me I could hear my mother crying softly, weeping for the man she loved. She had yet to re-marry, and the past year had seen us living off the money Father had left us. I knew we were running low on funds. I had seen mother leave the house with some of her more precious jewelry, returning late in the evening with it gone.

My mother's small cries hurt me much more than any physical pain could. I knew what was running through my mother's mind because it was the same thing that constantly tore through mine; why Daddy? Why Troy Black? Why was he the one to suffer another man's mistake? Why did he try to stop the fight?

I blinked back the tears that threatened to spill and crouched down beside Lorie, gently gathering her into my arms. She was too young to full understand what had happened. She was too young to understand that her father, a man who loved her dearly, would not be returning.

"Adora," She asked softly, not turning her gaze from the headstone before us. "Is this where Daddy lives now?"

"Yes, Lorie," I said just as tenderly, brushing small golden brown curls from small girl's forehead and kissing it gently. "Daddy is here now. He's living with the Angels, watching over us."

"Oh," Lorie whispered, pausing for a moment. "Adora, can you tell him to come home soon please?"

I tightened my hold on my younger sibling the tears rolling freely down my cheeks now. I smiled a sad smile, "He can't, Lorie. I'm Sorry."

Tiny fists held fast to my dress. "But why not? Doesn't he love us anymore?"

"Come now," Our mother's voice called to us from our right. I looked over at where mother was watching us, sorrow shadowing her face. "It's time to go home now."

Walking towards mother, Lorie gathered in my arms. As we made towards the carriage that awaited at the edge of the cemetery, away from my fathers resting place, I heard a small murmur from Lorie, and felt my heart lurch.

"I love you Daddy."

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Two Months Later

I walked softly along the corridors of my family home, towards my mother's chambers. The house seemed so empty now that there were so few a people about. Mamma had let go most of the servants and maids in the last month, our family funds getting smaller and smaller with each passing day. It made my heart heavy to walk along the hallways which had once been so homely and warm, but now stood empty, lifeless and dull, holding only a handful of objects it once did.

As I approached the door, I self consciously smoothed out the wrinkles in my dress and attempted to fix my hair. Momma was always fussy about how Lorie and I appeared. I knocked lightly on the large wooden door and waited patiently until I heard her mamma's voice welcome me inside.

She was seated at her vanity table, solemnly gazing at her reflection. This past year had impacted her appearance in a major way. Her skin no longer glowed healthily, but instead clung to her gaunt face, dull and sickly. Hair that had once been her pride, limply framed her face, no longer given the love and attention it once was.

"Mamma?" I asked, stepping into the room, closing the door soundlessly behind me. "Mamma, what's wrong?"

She looked up and smiled what could only be described as an echo of her old smile. "Sit down, honey. I need to have a talk to you." I quickly sat on the edge of her large bed. Momma got up from the vanity and sat beside me, placing her hand on my knee in a comforting gesture.

"What's wrong?" I asked again after a few moments silence.

"You and I have an important date tomorrow, Adora."

"A date? With whom, Mamma?"

"With some of your father's old friends. Kenneth Norrington, and his wife Mabel. I've been trying to get hold of them for months, they weren't acknowledging my letters. But," she continued, not meeting my eye, "last week I received a short note from them, and I was able to meet up with them Thursday morning. Of course, they weren't too happy when I told them what I wanted." She sighed and looked away, staring out a nearby window.

I swallowed a lump in my throat before asking, "What was it you wanted, Mamma?"

"A favor," she told me, her gaze not lifting from the window. "They owed me one." There was a long pause where she said nothing. "Adora," she started, finally looking me in the eye. "I asked them to take you back with them to Port Royal."

I nodded with a small smile. "I've always wanted to go there, Mamma."

Mamma sighed again. "I don't mean for a holiday, Adora. I mean to live."

I withdrew away from her sharply, looking at her with eyes now wide. I took a few steps back, not wanting to be near someone who had betrayed me. "What? Momma, why?" I felt anger rising, putting fire in my eyes, and venom in my words. "You mean to turn me away? This is my home!" I yelled, my voice breaking. "Why should I leave?"

I didn't want to go. I didn't want to leave the only home I had ever known. I had lived out my life under this roof. These walls had seen me go from childhood to womanhood. Daddy had lived here. My memories…

My mind couldn't grasp what she was saying, I could feel the tears burning behind my eyes and I was fighting a losing battle to keep them in check. "But…but…" I stammered trying to find words to explain myself.

"But what, honey? Look around you," she said holding her arms out and interacting at the empty room. "Our home is slowly being sold, piece by piece. Soon, there won't be anything left, no tables, not paintings, no bed for you to sleep upon. What can I give you, huh? What's here? I've got your sister ready to leave and I'm glad. In my heart I'm glad even through I hate to see her go. I need to do something for you too, Adora, before it's too late.

"I can't leave you, Mamma. Lorie will be gone, I'll be gone, and you'll be all alone," I told her shaking my head.

"No I wont, I'm going to sell what left here, and move out to live with an old friend of mine, Gabrielle in Cape Rosa. She never married and is all alone, she'll welcome my company. And Lorie won't be to far away, just around at the next bay."

"But I won't be!" I cried, and for a moment I couldn't speak, my throat closed up. Mamma had been planning all this. Could she really leave me? Could she leave sweet little Lorie? She was only young and needed her family close by.

I started to shake my head. "No," I whispered, still not believing this was real.

"You want to be a burden to me all my life, Adora?" She asked.

"I'll never be a burden to you, Mamma! Let me and Lorie come with you," I wailed

"Yes, yes you would be, Adora," she said softly, drawing me into her embrace. "Gabrielle's barely has enough room for me, let alone you and Lorie. I need you to do this for me. I want to do what's best for you, even if it means you'll be living somewhere else, in Port Royal." She pulled away gently, wiping the tears off my checks. "And when you're there, you'll meet a wonderful man who will make your heart go bumpty bump. And you'll marry, never having to worry about money again." She kissed my check lightly. "Just stand there a moment and think about all of this. I'm sure you'll realize I'm doing what's best for all of us, Adora."

I nodded numbly. "Where will Lorie be going?" I asked quietly.

"To my sisters in Cape Rosa. Your Aunt May has two other little girls, Sylvia and Megan. I'm sure she'll love playing with them all the time."

I swallowed hard, my throat felt like dust, and sighed solemnly, nodding my head. "When do I leave, Mamma?"

"First light tomorrow, honey. Maria is in your room packing. If there's anything in particular you want, you'd best go see it's packed." I didn't miss the melancholy that laced her voice.

I suddenly felt dizzy. My life was changing to fast and it felt so out of my control. By tomorrows dawn I would be leaving my old life behind, trading it for a new one with people I didn't know. I gave my mother a fierce embrace, not wanting the change.

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I took my time getting ready the next morning, and it was only after Maria appeared to help me dress that I really started comprehending that this was actually happening. I was leaving home, leaving my family, leaving everything I had ever known. I was quiet as Maria gathered my chestnut hair, twisting it into an elaborate fashion. I was even more so when Curtis, our butler, brought down my luggage and placed them in our carriage ready to go.

I stood outside in the gentle breeze, looking slowly around me. This would be the last time I would set my eyes upon this house, stand in these grounds. I would be making the trip to the docks by myself. I knew my way around there, as I had spent many an hour as a young child playing games while I waited for my father to dock his boat after one of his many voyages. My father…

I let go of my thoughts when I layed eyes on Lorie. She was dressed in her best dress with her hair done in a beautiful style. She caught my eye and beamed at me.

"Adora!" She called before running at me. I swung her into my arms and kissed her face repeatedly. The next time I saw my little sister she would be a grown. I silently wondered if she would remember me.

She looked at the carriage waiting, then turned her green eyes on me. "Where are you going, Adora?"

"I've got to go away fro a while, Lorie." I put her back on the ground and squatted so we were the same height, and took her small hand in my own. "You be good for Mamma while I'm gone, alright. Do what she says."

"But when are you coming back?"

"Not for a while, Lorie."

"A long while?" I nodded. "Then I want to go with you!"

"You can't. You've got to stay here where you can be looked after. Soon you'll be going on your own trip. You'll get to see Aunt May and her two daughters.

"But where are you going?" she asked again, her eyes already filling with tears.

"To see some friends in Port Royal."

"How come you never went before?" Lorie asked, her clever little mind quickly working up skepticism

"I was always too busy," I lied.

"Are you really coming back, Adora?" She asked softly.

"Of course," I said, and gave her a smile.

"Promise?"

"Cross my heart. Come, kiss me goodbye," I begged. She relented and put her small arms around my neck, I kissed her check and held her tightly before pulling back. I stood up and smile down at Lorie, then started towards the carriage, where Mamma was waiting. She held out her arms as I approached her and I stepped gladly into her arms.

"Goodbye, Mamma." I whispered, my vision starting to blur. "You're doing the right thing."

I could feel her smile and felt her lips brush against my cheek. "I know, but that doesn't make it any easier." She gave a short laugh before pulling away, bracing her hands on my shoulders briefly before stepping back altogether. "I want you to take this, Adora." She handed me over a small parcel wrapped in thick brown paper. "Open this later. I'll help you understand what's happening and why."

I stared numbly at her. Hadn't she told me all there was to know yesterday? Was there something else she hadn't told me? I looked back down at the small parcel briefly, then back at Mamma. Now wasn't the time to think of such things. Mamma had never hidden anything major from me in the past.

"Miss Adora," Curtis said from behind me. "If you are to travel to Port Royal today, we need to leave here first."

I smiled at him over my shoulder. Mamma took my elbow and guided me over, where Curtis took my hand and helped me into the carriage. I settled back into the seat and looked out the window, back at the only home I knew. Lorie was now standing beside Mamma, looking up at me and waving. I gave her a small wave back and blew her a kiss, hoping she would remember the big sister who loved her dearly when I returned. As the carriage started moving, my waves became more frantic, and I watched my home, my Mamma and my sister disappear out sight, out of my life.

Please remember me, Lorie.

Okay, sure, that was properly a bit dull in reading considering the lack of actual PotC characters. Don't worry though, it will pick up! And I'm as dishonest as anyone, so honestly – it will!