Hello! This is the first chapter of "The Othe Swann". I hope you like it!

Lexi Swann, the governors daughter, rolled out of bed at 5 o'clock. She yawned as she stared out the window. The sky was still dark. She stretched and slowly trudged to her closet, grabbing a pair of loose pants and a shirt. Checking the time on the grandfather clock, she ambled to the window and started climbing down to the gardens. It was too early for anyone to be working yet, so she managed to leave the manor without making a scene.

James Norrington, a man Lexi quite liked, was getting promoted to Commodore this day and the girl wanted to avoid it at all costs. The ceremony would be long and dull and she would be required to wear a dress - something she wasn't too fond of. Norrington would have to make do without her.

He wouldn't hold it against her, she knew that. Her father however, was a different story. This would ground him in his opinion that she, and most of the town knew he had of her - she was a disappointment. When Lexi was young, she had decided she wanted to be her own person. It was her coping mechanism after the loss of her mother - the girl rebelled against any and all expectations other people had of her. She spent most of her days out and about, talking with the townsfolk, listening to stories. From a very young age she was fascinated by pirates. Of course she recognised their faults - raping and killing innocents was not okay in her books - but she herself longed to taste the freedom they had.

While she portrayed herself as a person who didn't care what others thought of her in reality she wished at least her father could be more understanding. It did hurt when he looked at her as if she wasn't his daughter, but a stranger whose tongue he didn't speak. And then, there was Elizabeth. Elizabeth - the perfect daughter, Elizabeth, who would never step out of line.

Lexi walked onto the docks and watched as it slowly filled with people while the sun rose over them. The fresh air rustled her hair as she lost herself in thought.

The bells rang, signalling the time to be 7 AM. With one last glance towards the ships that were docked, Lexi got up and started walking through the already working people. It was time to go see her friends. She made her way to the private dock, property of the Royal Navy. As always, it was guarded by two men who immediately blocked her way.

„I'm sorry sir, this dock is off limits for-" started one of the marines when she cut him off with a smile. Their work was very much mechanical and so it was understandable that they payed no attention to who they were talking to.

„Civilians, yeah I know. Good thing I'm not one." She sighed. "I really thought you'd recognize a friend Murtogg."

„Lexi?" Asked the other one and she rolled her eyes. The two men weren't the brightest or quickest of lads, but she liked them.

„Yep, that's me Mullroy."

„You know you're gonna be in trouble again?" asked Murtogg. "You should be at the ceremony."

"It hasn't even started yet and Norrington won't miss me. I'll pop by his quarters later to congratulate him." She shrugged. "I'm not needed there. Plus, when am I not in trouble for one thing or another? Now I just want to eat breakfast with my friends. " Both of the men looked at each other and shrugged.

„Well, I guess now that you're here now, you can stay." said Mullroy

„Yeah, we allow you to stay here. You share some bread, though." Added Murtogg. She smiled and sat down on an empty barrel.

"Want to hear a story?"

A couple hours later found them still laughing and exchanging funny tales. Of course, few of them were true. Lexi was just in the middle of feigning a battle between a giant crab and a french pirate when a stranger walked onto the dock. Murtogg and Mullroy gave the girl an apologetic look and headed towards him as she frowned, having been quite happy with the show she had been putting on.

„This dock is off limits to civilians." Murtogg said, rather stiffly when they stranger arrived next to them.

„I'm terribly sorry. I didn't know. If I see one, I shall inform you immediately." Said the guy and tried to continue on his way, but the marines shifted, so that they were in front of him again. Lexi chuckled and got up to join them. „Apparently there's some sort of high toned and fancy to do up at the fort, eh? How could it be that two upstanding gentlemen such as yourselves did not merit an invitation?" He said, gesturing to the ceremony taking place up on the battlements. Lexi felt a bit of respect build up for the man when her friends frowned uncomfortably.

„Someone has to make sure this dock stays off limits to civilians." Mallory finally said.

„And a very fine job you are doing too." She teased them. The two marines ignored but the stranger raised his eyebrows at her. She winked.

„It's a fine goal to be sure but it seems to me that a…" he said turning back to Murtogg and Mullroy, and shifting again "…a ship like that" He continued, pointing to the Dauntless „…makes this one here a bit superfluous, really." Lexi frowned. The Dauntless sure was a force but the Interceptor which was being guarded by her friends more than a match for it.

„Oh, the Dauntless is the power in these waters, true enough, but there's no ship as can match the Interceptor for speed." Mullroy sounded her thoughts with a boastful tone and the stranger chuckled.

„I've heard of one, supposed to be very fast – nigh un-catchable…the Black Pearl."

„Well…there's no real ship as can match the Interceptor."

„The Black Pearl is a real ship." Murtogg frowned at his comrade.

„No, no it's not."

„Yes, it is, I've seen it." He said irritated that his friend didn't believe him.

„Here they go..." Lexi sighed. When the two would start bickering, they'd go on and on for a long time.

„You've seen it?"

„Yes."

„You haven't seen it."

„Yes, I have."

„You've seen a ship with black sails, that's crewed by the damned and captained by a man so evil that Hell itself spat him back out?" Mallory asked incredulously.

„No."

„No."

„But I have seen a ship with black sails." They continued arguing and Lexi decided to leave them to it and walked away onto the Interceptor. The stranger followed. She ignored him and looked up at the fort, wondering what part of the ceremony was taking place now.

„Mad you didn't get an invitation love?" The man asked, standing behind the wheel and spinning it lazily.

„I did get the invitation, thank you very much." She told him irritably. "I just chose to ignore it."

„No need to get mad." He moved towards her, his dreadlocks waving. She frowned and glanced back at her friends. They seemed to be just about finishing their little spat. Their weren't the best of guards, but finally they noticed her and the stranger were missing.

„Hey! You! Get away from there." Yelled Murtogg, as the two men advanced towards the ship.

„You don't have permission to be aboard there, mate." Mullroy said and glanced at her. „You don't either Lexi."

„Hang me." She deadpanned.

„I'm sorry, it's just - it's such a pretty boat. Ship." The guy said twirling the wheel the opposite direction he had been earlier.

„What's your name?" Murtogg asked suspiciously.

„Smith. Or Smithy, if you like."

„Ah, so the mystery man has a name!" Lexi exclaimed feigning excitement.

„What's your purpose in Port Royal, Mr. Smith?"

„Yeah. And no lies." added Murtogg

„Well, then, I confess, it is my intention to commandeer one of these ships, pick up a crew in Tortuga, raid, pillage, plunder and otherwise pilfer my weasely black guts out!" said Smithy calmly. Lexi grinned at him. She had a feeling the day was going to be interesting.

„I said no lies!"

„I think he's telling the truth." said Mullroy hesitantly.

„If he were telling the truth, he wouldn't have told us."

„Unless, of course, he knew you wouldn't believe the truth even if he told it to you." Smithy butted in helpfully. The marines looked at each other confused. That's when Lexi decided that she quite liked this strange man.