This is a story that you might think is very like others posted here. In fact, you will most likely be of that exact opinion. The reason that you would find it similar is simply in the fact that the bare-bone idea is one that has been worn out like a pair of old sneakers. In this story, Captain Jack Sparrow finds out that he has a—yes, you guessed it. A daughter. Hmm, to write that it seems cliché even to me. Oh well, I'm doing this because I find that I like the idea, but that far and few between stories have done the plot justice. Don't be offended if you've written one of those stories, I'm sure yours is fine, I perhaps just didn't take to it. Anyhow, enough of my rambling. Comment if you feel the need, say whatever you wish.

…TanzFieber

"And all of ye know the code, fall behind and get left behind!" Jack Sparrow, Captain Jack Sparrow, called this final reminder to the retreating backs of his crew with a satisfied smile. He couldn't blame them for being so eager; it had been quite some time, even a year, since the Black Pearl had put to port in Tortuga—

Tortuga. The very name of the place caused the hair on the back of his neck to prickle in anticipation. The last free port in the Caribbean, a place for any mother's son who called himself pirate. An unsavoury place to be sure, overrun by even more unsavoury inhabitants and visitors, Tortuga was dank, dirty, and full of all things uncivilised. Rum literally flowed through the streets, brawls roiled in and out of doors, and pleasurable company could be found wherever it was sought. Aye, Tortuga, seemingly the one place left on the map where a man was not judged by his name or his wealth, but by his skill with a sword and his capacity for drink.

Captain Jack Sparrow took all of this in from the railing of the Pearl, and felt his insides squirm minutely in excitement. No, he could not blame his crew in the least. However, he did think that the captain of the most feared ship in the Caribbean should behave in a more dignified manner, and so he refrained from running down the galley plank towards the town as his fellow buccaneers had done. Instead he gave a curt nod to Mr. Cotton, the man on first watch, and proceeded to the docks in his trademark lackadaisical way.

"Captain Sparrow, thought ye were dead, mate!"

"Captain Jack, sure an' we thought ye'd be in a drunken stupor in Singapore by now!"

"Well strike me, 'tis the grand ole Captain Jack Sparrow hisself! Is it true yer under a curse that turns ye into a woman at night?"

These calls flew from all directions as he meandered through the dim streets, most of them with a distinctly drunken slur to them. For his part, Jack merely nodded absently and waved them off, knowing his reputation was all the more terrifying when he neither confirmed nor denied said rumors. Besides that, it amused him greatly that he no longer had to invent fantastic stories to bolster the name of Captain Jack Sparrow, there were now people who had already done it for him!

The pirate captain continued his weaving trek into the town, stepping over comatose drunkards and avoiding brawls as they appeared in his path. Ah yes, the typical comforting mayhem of Tortuga, now the only pressing issue was deciding which he wanted first—rum or pleasurable company.

Spying half of his crew already staked out at one of his favorite watering holes, the Faithful Bride, Jack Sparrow made up his mind that rum was first on the agenda and was just about to enter when a less-ambiguous voice threaded its way through the noise.

"Captain Jack Sparrow, Alive and well, I see!"

Jack whirled on his heel, coattails flying, and smiled his most dashing gold smile at she who had called his name. "Scarlet!"

He spread his hands wide disarmingly at the red-headed woman who was eyeing him unfavorably. She wore a tight dress and an even tighter expression as he approached. "Aye, Luv, in the unscathed flesh, contrary to popular rumor!"

Instead of an answer, he received a hard slap across the face.

"That's fer goin' to Giselle last time ye were here, ye two-timing snake!" She announced haughtily. "Aye, I knew about that one, Captain Sparrow!"

For his part, Jack merely rubbed at his stinging jaw and filled his eyes with what he assumed to be injured innocence. "Why Scarlet, I'm terribly hurt to find myself privy to such accusations as being a disloyal patron! In fact, I was well on me way to findin' yer lovely self when I was no less than accosted by that harlot, Giselle! She got me drunk and took advantage of me, darling, I myself was nothing more than an almost innocent bystander!"

"Hah! Got YOU drunk? Oh Jack Sparrow, yer a drunken cad all by yerself, an' make no mistake!" She scoffed and he held up a finger to interrupt her.

"Ahem, that would be Captain, Luv. Captain Jack Sparrow is a drunken cad all by his onesies—"

This time he had the foresight to duck, and instead of landing square the slap sent his beloved tri-cornered hat spinning. Scarlet laughed shrilly and made a mocking curtsy at him.

"Oh, all due apologies, Captain... We're THROUGH!" She accentuated this claim with a stamp of her heeled boot and a swirling pivot that caused Jack to be hit in the face by her hair as she walked away. The captain had just begun making terrible faces at her back when she whirled again to face him and he made rather a fool of himself trying to look innocent after being caught with his tongue sticking out and his eyes crossed. Scarlet cackled again.

"And by the way, Captain Sparrow… Speakin' of Giselle, I've heard tell that she too has something to give ye! Best beware, yer piratin' days could well be over!" And with that, the tall red-head turned again and became lost in the crowd.

Jack Sparrow stood for a moment with a bemused expression on his face before shrugging. He bent low with a flourish and picked up his beaten hat, lovingly dusting it off before replacing it upon his head. As for what that woman Giselle could possibly be wanting to give him… Well, he could guess what it was and would just have to remember to duck again. There was nothing in the entire cosmos that could stop he, Captain Jack Sparrow, from pilfering and plundering his weasely black guts out!

Having reassured himself with that thought, Jack squared his shoulders and walked into the Faithful Bride, concerned only with obtaining that rum.