Author's Note: I received one review for my first chapter of the fanfic. It had a lot to offer in regards to strengthening the plot, characters, and overall grammar. Hopefully this chapter will continue to please....


Chapter 2

"I can't believe I was out witted by a horse," I laughed as Pegasus and I raced down the trail towards the bay, "it will be my head if I'm caught", I joked. Pegasus let out a happy squeal as he pressed on towards the shore. Poor Jack was hanging on for his dear life. I should have at least slow down slightly for him, since he is the reason why I was able to enjoy the adrenaline rush I was feeling. But there was no stopping Pegasus, he too was on a mission of his own.

When we reached the beach, I was finally able to slow Pegasus down, which gave Jack an opportunity to beeline off of the horse to the safety of the ground. I laughed at Jack, I felt a little sorry for him. I breathed in the salty air and a catharsis rushed over me.

As we pushed on I began to hum a familiar tune that I had learned from my travels at sea. Pegasus and I continued trotting down the beach until we arrived at my favorite spot in the little hidden bay. Jack had now gone off somewhere, most likely to find some bug to eat.

"Whoa", I said, stopping Pegasus in his tracks. I leaped down from his back and immediately began to take off my slippers. The sand felt so warm and soft under my feet. The breeze was blowing slightly and the sun was high above. Reaching to the back of my dress, I loosened my corset. Instantly, my intake of the sweet air was able to become deeper and fuller. My body was really not meant to be in traditional English fashion. It's not that I'm heavy; then again, neither am I skinny, I just have developed a muscular body over time. Swimming, adventuring through rocky terrain, sharpening my skills with the sword were all things not considered "lady-like" but things I had an interest in.

Caleb and I often have little sparring matches during his visits from his post. I am proud to say that I have whooped him quite a number of times, though I am sure he wouldn't admit to it. I picked up the hem of my skirt and proceeded down to the water. I only went in as far as my ankles, but it was enough. I tilted by head back and closed my eyes. I felt the warmth of the sun tickle my face, while the wind danced through my hair. The time I had spent in the sun had now kissed my skin with a slight tan, and caused the freckles on my body to stand out even more. This moment was all too perfect.

Then all of a sudden, an electric sensation went up my spine. I knew this feeling all too well, something wasn't right. Someone was watching me. I opened my eyes and turned to find a man standing off to my far right.

"How long has he been standing there?" I thought to myself. I examined his clothes, and at first glance I notice that he was no ordinary man, but a sailor of some sort. His hat told me that he was a captain. But there was something about him I couldn't place. That was until I saw it. There on his wrist, the mark left by the East Trading Company, a single letter "P"…

"Pirate!" I said under my breath. I stood for a moment, frozen to the spot. Then as the strange man took a faltering step towards me, I quickly dashed towards Pegasus.

"Relax love, I'm not going to bite," the unknown pirate said with a slight slur, "I was just sitting under that tree there, till I heard your voice. Where as then, I decided to find its owner." He took another step towards me…

"Don't come near me," I commanded with a relatively calm and strong voice, "or I will, will…"

"Will what love?" He continued to walk towards me

I instantly grab the sword the hung from Pegasus's saddle and pointed straight at the oncoming pirate. He stopped looked at me strangely. Only at that moment did I really notice his appearance, and smell. He smelled as if he hadn't bathed in days, or even weeks. He had eccentric do-dads in his dread locks, all of which were held under a simple red bandanna. His shirt and jacket were stained of dirt, sweat, and what smelled like rum.

"And what do you plan on do with that, may I enquire?" his slur opted to the fact he was also border lining drunk, "swing it around and hope you scratch me?" He again tried to come closer to me.

I took my stance, "I intend to keep you from coming closer to my person," I said with a smug smile.

"Yes, well I can see how you could handle a sword against another, such as myself, by they way you are standing." He examined me. It's true I do have an interesting way of using sword, but I have adapted many styles of combat though my many travels.

"Clearly you've never been to Singapore," I retorted back. The pirate raised an eyebrow and seemed to be in a state of perplexity, "besides, didn't your mother ever teach you to never judge a book by its cover?"

"Actually no, but I will keep that most fascinating detail for later. But you see," again he tried to take another step but I was too quick and sprung towards him as a warning. Immediately he backed off, hands raised at chest leve, "I do not take a fancy in fighting the weaker species, meaning you as a "wo-mon", and I have no where safe to put my hat, so it you don't mind," but I was again too quick and using the tip of my sword I flicked his hat off the top of his head onto mine. It was a little trick I had picked up to edge my brother on when he wouldn't have a little friendly match with me. But why was I edging this pirate on? Was the idea of crossing swords with a pirate to much for me to resist?

The pirate just stood there gave shot me a sly smile, "Um, could I please have my hat back?" he asked

"Sorry you will just have to get it back." Wait did I just say that? Did I just open an invitation to this pirate to fight me? What the heck was I doing?

"Very well then, but I have to warn you. A woman such as yourself doesn't stand a chance against a superior like me."

"I highly doubt that. Seeing how you're soaked of rum, I think the odds are even," I said with confidence.

"But you forgot one important detail…. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow," and with that, we were off in a dance of swords. I matched every advance he made on me, and so did he with me. I couldn't help but smile the entire time we crossed swords…

"Not bad, for a woman," the pirate, or excuse me, Jack teased. Our swords locked.

"Oh how kind," I smirked as our swords intertwined with one another, " I was just about to say that about you being a drunk." Smiling coyly, he pushed me back, and took a swing. The tip of his sword grazed the strap of my dress and caused it to break. Aggravated, I retaliated with a series of jousts that cause Jack to lose his balance and fall over on the sand.

"Now that wasn't very nice," he said looking up at me.

"Nope, and neither is this," kicking up a bunch of sand I turned ran for Pegasus, but undesirably Jack was too quick and grabbed me by my shoulder and spun me around, our sword locked together. I didn't at first realize how uncomfortably close our faces were, because I was locked into his beautiful deep brown eyes. I felt a shiver go up my spine. But it shouldn't have, he's a pirate, I shouldn't be feeling like this. But still my face went red…

"Little flushed are we?" Jack taunted. I shook my head and pushed him off me, I had had enough of this, and with one swift movement I knocked his cutlass out of his hands. I turned to grab the cutlass out of the air, and then turned back suspecting to find him in submission. Instead, discovered a gun, pointed at my head.

"You cheated!"

"Pirate," he haughtily replied. I dropped the swords into the sand and glared hatefully at him.

"So now what, Sparrow is it?" I posed.

"Captain Jack Sparrow if you please, but may I ask the name of the woman who still has possession of my hat?"

"…I don't please, and you can call me Miss. Lirette," I retorted resentfully, "now if you were any kind of a gentleman -though I suppose your not, considering your attempts at personal hygiene have gone astray, and the fact that your gun is still at my head- you would answer my question."

"Well…"he smiled ever so mysteriously as he look at me…

"I would like to see you try!" I exclaimed. I really need to learn to keep my mouth shut… Impulsively he grabbed me by the waist and pulled me in close and kissed me deeply and passionately. Even though my mind was screaming to pull away in disgust, I felt myself pull him in closer, my hands clutching the lapels of his coat. The kiss was truly strong, warm, and overpowering. Sensations ran up and down my spine, I was going weak at the knees. I was lost in a world of ecstasy that I had never felt before. Suddenly at the sound of a loud gunshot, both of us broke apart and looked toward the hill where the sound had come from. Even Pegasus's ears had pricked up in interest of the sudden sound. Immediately 4-5 men came running over the hillside and down the beach, shouting something that I couldn't make it out. Sparrow, on the other hand, knew exactly what was going on…

"Oh buggar," I heard him mutter beside me, "sorry love, but parting is such sweet sorrow..." oh great a romantic…*gag*! And with that he took off running down the beach, quickly followed by what I guessed to be his crew. They were still shouting and I was able to make out one important word as the rushed by me,

"NAVY!"

Fear over took me. If they found me here, unaccompanied, with a stolen horse and an outlawed pirate, I would be chained to my bedpost for the rest of my life. I ran as fast as my feet could carry me, jumped on Pegasus, and fled back to the stables before I could be caught