AN: Thanks to my Beta Griffinesque :)

Prologue

The Atlantic Jewel bounded over the harsh sea waves, rocking violently back and forth as the captain of the Atlantic Jewel tried to handle the rapidly turning wheel. The sea was as unforgiving as the king's soldiers and was the only death a pirate feared more than the noose. Winds howled as the ship charged bow first into gales that ripped at the sails and pulled on the fastenings. The storm continued to rage; drawing the ship off course and further from the bays that lined the horizon. After hours of arduous sailing, the black clouds began to retract, revealing the innocent blue sky.

"Cap'n," a bulky pirate called down from the crow's nest, "seems the weather has brought us some fortune."

The man grinned as he stored his spyglass in his tattered leather belt.

The storm had long since cleared and streaks of sunlight had begun to glint off the now calm sea. The Atlantic Jewel had held together through the storm and was only in need of a couple of insignificant patch jobs on the railing. Right after the storm ended, the captain immediately begun to find out their current location.

"Sir," One of the other soldiers on the captain's ship, Entrosys, saluted the his captain before he came to halt before him.

"A ship bearing no flag has been tailing us for the last quarter mile, and I have reason to believe it is a pirate ship," the soldier reported in his heavy English accent, which was almost masked by a slight drunken slur.

Panic flashed over the captain's eyes as he thought about the expensive cargo and the passengers aboard his ship before his calm demeanor once again took control.

"Gather the men and prepare for boarding," he barked at the soldier as he glanced over his shoulder at the black sailed ship that was quickly getting closer.

The pirates quickly boarded and took control of the Entrosys, soldiers along with their captain were quickly crowded into a corner with pirates armed and watching them closely. The Atlantic Jewel's captain was positioned by the wheel and awaiting the return of the first mate with the important passengers, which had quickly been revealed as the duke and his family. Thuds sounded below deck as the passengers were roughly pushed towards the stern of the boat and the pirate captain who was leaning against the mast.

"I will not have this; just take the money and go," the Duke cried as he tried to break free of a pirate's grip, but the pirate just chuckled before replying, "I don't think that was Cap'n's plan."

The Duke, his wife and young son were pushed up the stairs onto the upper deck. The Atlantic Jewel's captain, a woman, stepped out from behind the mast and studied the passengers.

James gaped at the woman, barely twenty-five years of age, standing in front of him. She was one of the most notoriously well known pirates on the seven seas. Her cream shirt hung loosely from her shoulders with the top two buttons undone. Her shirt was tucked into snug brown breaches, a simple brown leather belt sat on her waist with a sword, pistol and a couple of daggers strapped to it. Wisps of red hair, that came loose from her waist length braid, framed her face and dazzling green eyes stared back at him, mocking him in every way possible.

"Captain Evans, what a pleasure it is to finally meet you," the Duke, James's father, said to the pirate standing in front of him, the sarcasm obvious in his voice.

"The feeling is certainly mutual, Duke," she replied before her lips twisted into a smile as she almost unconsciously pulled a dagger from her belt and began to twist it around in her hand.

James tried to keep eye contact with the pirate, but felt his gaze drift towards the dagger every time it moved. Looking more closely at the dagger, it looked to be reasonably expensive, and no doubt stolen. The hilt was wooden with a silver inlay in the shape of vines and at least a dozen small rubies embellishing the hilt as flowers. Her eyes caught James's and she took a step towards him, tucking the dagger back into her belt.

"And what's your name," she said with her voice smooth as silk.

"James," he said defiantly as he stuck his chin.

Her eyes danced as she turned to the man standing beside him. A pirate as well, he had shoulder length brown hair that hung slightly over his face, almost covering his almond colored eyes. He stood at least half a head taller than her and looked like the image of a story book pirate with a long sword in hand and a pistol tucked in to his pants.

"Jac," she said right before he felt a hard thud on the back of his head.

AN: I hope you like it, if I have made any mistakes, historic or otherwise please let me know, and please review and tell me what you think :)

Edit: 4/24/11, I wasn't quite sure where the story was going when I first published this so I've made a few minor changes so my plot will work, and just so you are aware James is only young, around 6 years old :)