Twelve-year-old Elizabeth Swann stood at the ship's bow, quietly looking out at the foggy, thick-as-pea-soup sea. Several of her father's soldiers, as well as the sailors, worked at their ship-wide tasks so diligently that you could hear a pin drop.

Well, if it weren't for a certain someone aboard the ship.

Eight-year-old Isabella Swann constantly played around the ship, not even stopping for meals or slumber. She could barely stand still for a second's time. Bella insisted on taking a turn steering the vessel. She'd pout if she wasn't allowed to help the drunk and grimy sailors set the sails. But, she was rarely disappointed or let down. She had her father, Governor Swann, wrapped around her little pinkie finger. If Bella wasn't happy, Elizabeth was then ordered to uncover a way to make her content.

Now, Bella was begging Captain James Norrington to lift her so she could see over the ship's railing. Captain Norrington, who was slightly confused when it came to children, stood with a blank expression on his face.

"But you can see the ocean perfectly without being lifted, can't you, Miss Swann?" Norrington glanced around rapidly, searching for someone to distract Bella. "I have work to do…"

"I can see," Bella scoffed. "But not very much. Someone has to lift me."

Norrington muttered curse words under his breath, then caught sight of Elizabeth. "Miss Elizabeth!" he called out to her. "Would you be so kind to take your sister and entertain her somehow?" His eyes narrowed. "I don't have to speak with your father, do I?"

Elizabeth sighed and left her post at the bow to get Bella. "No, Captain Norrington," she wrapped her arm around her sister and started to lead her away.

The captain looked relieved. "Thank you, Miss Elizabeth."

Disheartened, she replied, "You're welcome, Captain Norrington."

When she and Bella were at the bow - out of ear shock of the captain – Bella threw back her head and giggled.

"I love teasing him, don't you, Elizabeth?" Bella grinned, showing off the gap where her two front teeth once were. "He grows so red when I ask to be lifted!"

Elizabeth didn't smile back. "You mustn't bother Captain Norrington, Isabella," she scolded the little girl. "Father will be furious if you take him away from his duties."

Bella's smile dropped and she looked away. "Sorry," she muttered. But then, her face brightened. "Sing me the pirate song, Elizabeth! Just like you always do!"

Her eagerness immediately put the elder girl into a decent mood. "All right," Elizabeth smiled. "But you sing too."

"Of course!" Bella was bouncing in excitement.

Elizabeth peered out at the sea again, cleared her throat, and opened her mouth. "Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me…we pillage, we plunger, we rifle, and loot..."

"Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho!" Bella joined in.

Together, the sisters sang, "We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot, drink up, me 'earties, yo ho! Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!

"Bah," a voice scoffed. "Bit of a dangerous song to be singing, eh, lassies?"

Surprised, both girls turned to find Mr. Gibbs, one of the sailors, shaking his head at them, a liquor bottle clutched in his hand.

"Dangerous, Mr. Gibbs?" Bella inquired with her eight-year-old charm. "How is it dangerous…?"

Mr. Gibbs laughed heartily and left the two to complete his work. "How is it dangerous…bah!"

Bella turned to face Elizabeth. "What was he talking about, Elizabeth?"

A smile crept upon her older sister's face. "Don't listen to him, Bella," Elizabeth tickled her under her chin. "He's just an old, drunk fool."

Bella giggled. The two shared a smile and then began to stare out at the ominous, grey sea.

Time passed and soon, both girls were beginning to feel lazy and sleepy. Elizabeth was just about to drift off to slumber land when Bella's voice snapped her out of her daze.

"Father!" The little girl yelped. "Captain Norrington! A boy! A boy is floating in the water!"

Chaos broke out as the sailors and soldiers rushed to the ship's railing to scope out the boy. Sure enough, there was a young lad out there, clutching onto a piece of driftwood as his life raft.

"Man overboard!" Governor Swann called out. "Crew, rescue him!"

Ropes were thrown into the sea, shouting occurred. Soon, the boy was lying on the ship's floor, coughing and sputtering up water. Elizabeth and Bella worked their way through the crowd to inspect the boy thoroughly. The girls' father immediately pulled Bella back from harm, but Elizabeth was allowed to look more closely. The boy was about her age, with black-as-night hair and pasty, white skin. His clothes were sodden and tattered. As the lad was placed on the top of a crate for resting, Governor Swann approached his eldest daughter.

"Elizabeth," he stroked the girl's cheek. "Do me a favor and keep an eye on the boy, all right, love? Find out something about him – where he's from, what his name is, you know."

"Yes, Father."

The governor took his younger daughter below deck to lay her down for a nap. Meanwhile, Elizabeth stepped closer to the boy, whose eyes remained closed. She fingered his face, admiring his features, when all of a sudden, the boy took a large gasp of air and his eyes snapped open, he grabbing a hold of her arm.

Elizabeth gasped. "Oh! Oh dear, you're all right here, don't worry. My name is Elizabeth Swann and I'm going to look after you. I won't hurt you, I promise."

The boy breathed in more air. "W-W-Will Turner." And his eyes were closed once more.

Elizabeth began stroking his face again, when something caught her eye. A gold skull medallion was on Will's neck, the gold still shining brightly even after being in the ocean for so long. She gasped, she knew what the medallion stood for – piracy. Elizabeth and Bella had read enough books together to know about pirates and their signs. This boy might have been accused of piracy! Her heart beating, she undid the string of the medallion, gently took it off the boy's neck, and clasped it in her hand, inspecting it carefully.

"Have you found out anything about him yet, Miss Swann?" The captain came up from behind.

Elizabeth spun around to face him, hiding the medallion behind her back. "N-No, his name's William Turner, though. T-That's all I found out."

Captain Norrington tilted his head, letting the name sink in. Finally, he nodded and strolled away. Elizabeth faced Will once more, staring at him, then the medallion. As she was trying to put two and two together, the scent of smoke filled her nostrils. Her face wrinkling, she turned and saw a horrible sight – a burning ship was in the distance, very few voices calling out. And near the ship was another, though this one had a certain feeling to it. It looked ghostly and abandoned, yet, it was moving. She then caught sight of the moving ship's flag – on it, a skull stared her in the eye. A shock traveled through her body – that was no ordinary ship. It was a pirate's ship, to be specific – the Black Pearl.

Greetings. (:

This is a story written by A Catholic Girl. I, Protego Totalum, am just posting it for her due to some difficulties. (:

Enjoy!

Cheero