Author's Note: I know this is a step out of my usual fandom of Harry Potter, but I've been watching a lot of pirate stuff lately, (since this year's Relay for Life theme is pirate-related and I'm getting really into it) and after watching Pirates of the Caribbean, I decided to try my hand at writing a little POTC oneshot. Doesn't have a specific time, but Jack is captain of the Pearl- so it could be before the mutiny or after the third movie, I haven't decided yet. Doesn't matter either way, it is purely for your (and my own) entertainment. Enjoy!
~LilReporterGirl
Chapter 1- The Meeting
It was early in the morning, only an hour or so before the sun was to rise. It was one of the darkest times of night, when the moon was starting to sink. It was even darker due to the clouds that drifted through the sky, causing shadows.
Tora, a woman of about 25, stood at the helm of the ship, one hand resting on the wheel, the other stroking the head of a magnificent Siberian tiger who was purring. The nighttime cool of the breeze coming off the sea made her pale cheeks cold. She was dressed in boys clothes- breeches and a shirt- as were many of the women on her ship. What made her different than the others was the captain's hat on her head. And the tiger, of course.
"Keep an eye to the East, Saida," Tora said to the tiger.
The crew was waiting silently for the signal. They were all waiting for the signal. Tora had sent three of the smallest and quickest of her crew out in a rowboat to stealthily board the ship that was seen on the horizon. Tora could see the ship but those aboard could not see Tora's ship, The Raven, as it was silhouetted against the rocks. The crew she sent out knew the routine well- board the ship one at a time, take out the scouts and anyone on deck, flash the signal, then sneak below and take out the canons.
Tora pulled out her telescope and scanned the ship. She could see Dawlish taking out the man in the crow's nest. Mari and James swiftly and silently took out the other men on deck, then Mari gave the signal- she lit a single candle she had carried aboard with her.
"Alright, let's go- bring in the anchor and move the ship in slowly," Tora said to her crew.
The Raven moved up alongside a ship called The Resilient and Tora boarded the ship using a strong plank while some of the crew swung across on ropes. Saida followed Tora onto the ship. While her crew crawled throughout the ship, subduing its passengers and gathering treasure, Tora and Saida went straight to the captain's quarters. No one was there and Saida stood in the doorway, ensuring it would stay that way while Tora pillaged the room. She took the bloke's money purse and anything else useful from the room before she took what she came for- books. He had shelves of them. Tora didn't stop to look at any of them, just swept them into a bag, then left the room. Nathaniel, her first mate, called out to her.
"We've got the crew subdued in the brig, Captain," he told her.
"Thanks Nate," she said and, heaving the bag over her shoulder, headed down to the brigg, Saida walking a few steps in front of her.
Tora walked down to the belly of the ship where Mary had the ship's crew secured in the brig. She was twirling her pistol around, that manic look in her eye that she sometimes got.
"I've got it from here, Mary, get what you can from the rest of the ship and be sure to get the kitchen," Tora said as she and Saida came down the stairs.
"Yes, captain," Mary said and walked past her, careful to walk on the opposite side of Saida.
"A woman pirate? And a captain no less? What is this world coming to?" said one of the prisoners.
"Shut it," Tora snarled and Saida let out a terrifying roar at the cage that made the man who had spoken wet himself. Tora chuckled.
"Which one of you lot is the captain of this here vessel?" Tora asked. A man- not the one who had pissed himself- stepped forward.
"C-Captain Henry Porter," he said, his eyes cast to the floor in his shame at being overtaken by a female pirate.
"Henry," she began and his face turned an ugly shade of purple. "know that no unnecessary blood was shed here tonight. Little harm was done to your crew, compared to what it could have been, and your ship- she is quite a nice ship by the way- has not been damaged. I suggest that, after we leave, you make for the Port of Sangine for supplies."
"Captain!" called Dawlish, coming down the stairs. "There is another ship on the horizon and coming up fast!"
"What colors is she flying?"
"She isn't flying any colors, Captain," he replied.
"Great," muttered one of the captives. "More pirates."
"Come, Saida. Dawlish, you stay here and keep watch over them. Don't let them try anything…regrettable."
Up on deck, the sun was just peaking over the horizon, turning the sky an array of brilliant colors. A large ship with black sails, silhouetted against the sunrise, was coming up fast to pull alongside the starboard side of the Resilient. Tora pulled out her telescope and scanned the ship. She recognized it from the tales.
The ship pulled alongside the Resilient and a plank was laid across the two ships. Her crew had their swords out, ready for a fight, as Tora faced the ship. Only one man crossed the plank, a pistol tucked into his belt, but he didn't seem to be looking for a fight.
"Well this looks fun," he said, stepping onto the boat.
"What's going on here? Jack Sparrow cannot find and hold up ships by himself?" Tora asked challengingly.
"What? Do I know you?" he asked, eyeing her curiously.
"No, but I have heard the tales of the legendary Jack Sparrow," she replied sardonically.
"That's Captain Jack Sparrow, love. Where is your captain?" he asked, looking around at the crew who still had him at sword point.
"I am," Tora said. "Tora Frost, captain of The Raven."
"You're a captain?"
"I don't wear this hat to keep my hair from flying in the wind," Tora said. Though that was an added bonus, she thought to herself.
"A girl for a captain? That must get a little vexing, eh?" Sparrow said, looking at Nate who narrowed his eyes. Saida let out a snarl and Jack, noticing her for the first time, stumbled back a step.
"Woah! Nice kitty," he said, holding his hands up as the cat circled him.
"Does my gender bother you, Mr. Sparrow?" Tora asked, her green eyes glinting coldly in the light of the rising sun.
"Now don't get your knickers in a twist, love. I've met plenty of girl pirates, and girl captains, too- Anamaria, do you know her? She's a friend of mine. And it's Captain Jack Sparrow."
"Well Captain Sparrow- what brings you aboard my vessel?"
"Your vessel?" Jack said.
"Yes my vessel. We have commandeered her and subdued her crew now why are you here?"
"What's in the bag?" he asked curiously, nodding to the bag Tora had slung over her shoulder. The crew fell silent.
"None of your business, Sparrow, quit stalling. What do you want?"
"…Rum," he said finally. "Whatever you can spare- it's dryer than the Sahara desert over there, love. I'm dying."
Tora studied him silently a moment, then glanced to her first mate.
"Nate."
"Yes, Captain?"
"Get Mr. Sparrow a few bottles of rum from the Resilient's stores."
"Yes, Captain," he said and hurried down the stairs.
"Yes, thank you, love, you're a godsend, really. I'll make it up to you, I swear, if you ever need anything- I'll be in Tortuga next week, if you want to-"
"Shut up," Tora said to him and Saida let out a low growl, bearing her teeth at him. Jack let out a nervous sort of chuckle. Tora smirked- even the bravest of men turned to sniveling babies when faced with the 400-pound tiger. Nate came back carrying several bottles of rum and Jack licked his lips desperately as he handed the bottles to Tora. Tora stepped forward and the crew lowered their swords as she handed Jack the rum.
"Now get off my ship," she said.
"You got it, love," he said and hurried back across the ship.
"You should have let me shoot him," Mari said as the Black Pearl sailed away. "That'd be a tale to spread around."
"Perhaps," Tora said with a slight smile, then addressed her crew. "Come on you lot, finish up here. And don't forget, Benjamin gets the best weapon aboard, since he spotted the sails. If there's any dispute over it, there'll be lashings."
As her crew went back to work pillaging the ship, Tora and Saida crossed back over to The Raven, the bag of books and loot slung over her shoulder. Tora had gotten her pick, the rest would be divided equally amongst the crew, by the code. She had actually been taking less than her share lately. As captain, the code said she was entitled to half the loot and first pick, but lately she had been going aboard just to get the books. She had what she wanted- her ship, her crew, and the wide open sea. Money and gold had ceased to have much value to her and knowledge had gained some value…though of course, she'd never let her crew know that.
As she made her way back to her quarters, she thought about her meeting with Jack Sparrow. She had grown up with the legends of the Black Pearl and of Jack Sparrow. He'd single-handedly robbed Ports around the world; escaped from sea monsters; escaped a marooning by lashing together two sea turtles to make a raft; and slipped from the hangman's noose on numerous occasions. She'd heard he once survived a bullet to the heart.
Jack Sparrow… he had been intriguing. Rude and obnoxious and obviously an alcoholic…but intriguing nonetheless. And that look he'd given her…like he knew what was in the bag or at least knew something about her she wasn't sure she wanted him to know.
Saida gave her a look, like she knew what her friend was thinking.
"What?" Tora asked defensively. "It's been a while since the crew has been to port, they'll appreciate the break."
The tiger huffed and lay on her pillow in the corner.
Tora emptied her bag of loot onto the table and sat down to look through the books. Some were books of maps- newer than the ones she had, so she kept them. The other books all contained drawings of naked women. Disgusted, she tossed those out the port-side window.
"Men," she said, exasperated, and began to look over the maps. There was a knock on her door and Nate came in.
"We've left the Resilient and taken off. Where are we headed next, Captain?"
Tora thought about it a moment.
"Set a course for Tortuga," she instructed. "We've earned a break."
"Aye, Captain."