Disclaimer:looks sulkily at the lawyers: Have I ever given you a reason not to trust me:lawyers scowl: Fine. I don't own Pirates of the Caribbean. :crosses arms: There, I said it. Do you feel better for it? I don't. I feel sad.
Author's Note: An explanation for why Elizabeth was so badss in the second film, although I still think she was too good at sword fighting than a former nightgowned-damsel-in-distress (who'd only had a year to train) had a right to be.
Summary: Elizabeth vowed to herself that it would happen never again.
Never Again
Terrified gasps shook Elizabeth's frame and filled the room after another nightmare. She hugged herself tightly, trying not to reflect on the memory of helplessness that had plagued her ever since her last adventure.
Never again.
The next morning, swords clanged in Will Turner's smithy. Elizabeth, dressed in a light dress, brushed a strand of sweat-soaked hair from her eyes. Will coached her gently, giving tidbits of advice. He was always careful to never blatantly tell her she was doing something wrong. Elizabeth couldn't help but love him the more for it.
Never again.
Every day, if she could, Elizabeth would practice with Will her newfound skills. Despite sometimes wishing to give up, to simply learn how to fire a gun and be done with it like most other young ladies would have (if they wanted to defend themselves at all), she persevered. She knew that sometimes, shooting wouldn't be good enough. She knew that sometimes, what you were fighting was already dead.
Never again.
His face loomed in her mind, haunting her dreams during the nights and driving her on during the day. His voice rang in her ears, craggy and oddly captivating, while his words repeated in her mind: 'There would be no sense in killin' yeh, Miss Turner.' That would not always be true, or considered.
Never again would she be at someone's mercy. Never again would she be defenseless and not know what to do. After each nightmare, each memory, she would whisper softly to the shadows and the luminous moon that had the face of him on it:
"Never again!"