Eight years later

Katherine allowed her body to fall into the nearest chair and she placed her cutlass on the table next to her. In front of her, Will sat down too and both were smiling from the rush they felt.

"You're getting better by the day", he told her. "You're a natural at handling a weapon".

"Thanks", she replied with a grin. "You're pretty good yourself!"

She watched as he stood up, sheathed his sword and cleaned up the damage they did in the shop. "Isn't it time for you to go back?"

"Yeah, I should", she confirmed and then sheathed her cutlass, handing it to the young apprentice who promised to sharpen it for her. "I'll see you later, Willy!"

The young man raised an eyebrow at the nickname but he let it pass. Katherine threw on her coat and her hat as she left the shop to head back to the Swann Manor. She kept her gaze lowered so that no one would recognize her. She would get in trouble if anyone found out that Katherine Knight was wearing clothes for men and that she was secretly learning how to use a cutlass. She rounded to the side of the wall of the Manor and just like all the countless times before, she used the vines to pull herself on the other side and she darted to the house, keeping out of sight until she reached her room. Once inside, she shed her clothes and hid them in a trunk under her bed, and she pulled on her nightgown.

She smirked in triumph when she heard her uncle knocking on the door.

"Come in!" She called back and the door opened. The Governor entered the room with two maids, one of whom was carrying a box.

"Ah, Katherine! Did you sleep well?" The older man asked with a warm smile.

"I did, Uncle", she replied and watched one of the maids draw back the curtains to let in the daylight.

"I have something for you", he then said and he opened the box, revealing a pale blue dress.

"It's so pretty", Katherine said with a wide smile as she took it out of the box. "Thank you so much, Uncle!"

"It's my pleasure, sweetheart", he replied and patted the girl on the head. "Today Captain Norrington is going to be promoted to Commodore".

"Oh, that's wonderful! I'll make sure to congratulate him when I see him", she said. It made her happy that James was being promoted since he was one of the finest that the navy could have.

"I have to go see Elizabeth now. I'll leave you to get ready".

Once he left, the maids prepared Katherine's bath and they helped her to get ready. She gasped when the bodice was tightened considerably.

"Be careful", she said and then gasped again.

"I'm sorry, Miss", the maid said from behind her.

"What is this?"

"It's a corset, Miss. It seems to be the latest fashion in England and it's very popular".

"Well, I can definitely say that it can be used as a device for torture".

The two maids giggled and they left once they were done dressing her up. Her hair was pulled into a tight chignon and a hat matching with her dress was placed on her head. Katherine waited until they were gone to open a drawer where she had kept her father's belongings. Only his hat was kept on her vanity table. She took out the thin chain from which his ring dangled and she slipped it around her neck with the ring resting below her collarbone. It was a simple silver band with his initials, J.K, followed by CAPT B.M -most likely standing for Captain of Blue Moon- engraved on the inside. She ran her hand over the spyglass and the dagger but she closed the drawer when a lump formed in her throat.


Katherine hated any kind of long ceremonies but this one took the cake. The sun was beating down on them and the corset made it very difficult to breathe. The fan in her hand did nothing to reduce the breathing problem and her hat barely sheltered her from the sun. Next to her, Elizabeth was in a similar situation.

"I'm never wearing a corset ever again", Katherine whispered to her.

"Me too", the older girl said breathlessly.

Once the ceremony was over, the two young women stepped out of the crowd. Elizabeth leaned against the structure for support while Katherine was on the other side in the same position. The newly promoted Commodore came out and he took a deep breath on seeing them. The younger one caught his eyes first.

Katherine stood up and gave a strained smile. "Congratulations, Commodore", she said with a curtsy.

"Thank you, Miss Katherine", he replied with a bow. "You look wonderful".

"Thank you", she said and then secretly motioned to Elizabeth with her eyes. "Good luck, James", she whispered under her breath and she smirked at the dumbfounded look on his face. She headed back in order to find some shade from the heat.

"Katherine?" The Governor called. "Is something the matter, dear? You look pale".

"It's just the heat", she lied partly. She could not tell him that the dress he gave her was killing her slowly and painfully. "I need to sit".

The man quickly called an Officer who led the raven haired girl to some chairs where she sat down heavily. "Are you okay, Miss?" He asked with slight concern.

"Not really but I'll be in a moment", she said with a polite smile.

"Elizabeth!"

Katherine snapped her head towards the sudden shout and her heart dropped when there was no sign of the girl and James made a move to jump in the sea. However, he was held back by Groves. "Sir, the rocks!" He warned him. "It's a miracle she missed them".

Katherine jumped to her feet and she followed the men who ran down towards where they would be able to go save Elizabeth. She noticed the sudden change in weather and an ominous wind blew around her. Something was going to happen, she deduced and she stopped a few feet away from the commotion in front of her.

"I believe thanks are in order", the Commodore said and he extended his hand towards a man who was dressed like a sailor. The latter hesitated but he took Norrington's hand. James immediately pushed back his sleeve to reveal a scarred P on the man's wrist. "Had a brush with the East India Trading Company, did we?" Norrington asked with a smirk. "Pirate".

"Hang him", Governor Swann immediately ordered and the sailor's face fell.

"Keep your guns on him, men", James ordered. "Gillette, fetch some irons".

He pushed the sleeve back further to reveal a familiar tattoo on the man's arm. "Well, well. Jack Sparrow, isn't it?"

"Captain Jack Sparrow, if you please, sir", Sparrow corrected.

"I don't see your ship, Captain", Norrington remarked.

"I'm in the market, as it were", he replied and squinted his eyes.

"These are his, sir", one of the guarding officers said and he handed the pirate's belongings to James.

"No additional shots nor powder, and a compass that doesn't point North", he said as he went through the man's things. Jack Sparrow seemed annoyed that James was looking through his stuff but he opted to remain silent. The Commodore took a look at the sword and he smirked. "I half expected it to be made of wood. You are, without doubt, the worst pirate I've heard of".

"But you have heard of me", Jack pointed out.

"Elizabeth!"

Everyone turned around as Katherine made her appearance and she jogged to the drenched girl to hug her. "Thank God you're okay", she said in relief.

"I think I know you", Sparrow said with a curious look at the tiny woman.

Katherine narrowed her eyes at him. "No, you don't", she shot back dryly.

"Have I threatened you before?" He asked and immediately stepped back when Norrington stepped in front of Katherine protectively and he pointed his sword at the pirate as warning.

"No, you haven't!" She replied incredulously. Her eyes darkened when he peered around James to take a good look at her.

"Oh, corset", he noticed. "Better take it off, love. It can be life threatening".

James took hold of Sparrow roughly and he pulled him towards Gillette who manacled him.

"Commodore, I really must protest", Elizabeth said firmly and she stood in front of her savior. "Pirate or not, this man saved my life".

"One good deed is not enough to redeem a man of a lifetime of wickedness", James said grimly.

"But it seems enough to condemn him", Jack added.

"Ja- Commodore", Katherine intervened and she stepped up. "They're right. Let him go".

"Katherine", the Governor called baffled at her input. He was almost certain that she would side with him and not the pirate.

"It's just not right", she replied with a shake of her head.

"You should listen to dear Katy", Jack said with a wide smile but it was wiped off his face when said girl took a sword from an unsuspecting officer and she pointed it at his throat.

"Do not call me that", she seethed darkly and Jack flinched at the dangerous look in her eyes. She definitely reminded him of someone but he could not remember who. He threw the Commodore a grateful look when James pulled her back but she struggled against his hold.

"Katherine, please head home", he told her. "Two officers will accompany you".

"I know the way back. Thank you very much, Commodore Norrington", she snapped and pulled out of his arms. However, she expertly twirled the weapon in her hand and planted it in front of the pirate's foot. She scoffed when he flinched. Throwing one last look at him, she stormed away angrily.

"Touchy subject?" Jack asked with a grimace but no one replied.


The raven haired Knight went to the blacksmith's shop to find Will but she found that he was absent and Mr. Brown was sleeping on a chair in a corner. She went upstairs to see if he was in his room but there was no sign of him. A strange noise coming from downstairs made her frown. It sounded like some machinery and it was soon followed by some voices, one which she recognized to be Will. Katherine tiptoed down the stairs and she was flabbergasted to find Jack Sparrow with his manacles broken and he was fighting Will.

Both men froze when they saw her and Jack smiled nervously. "Hello again, Missy", he said.

Will looked at him and then back to his friend. "You know him?" He asked curiously.

"Oh, you know her too?" Jack asked him.

"What is going on here?" Katherine asked with narrowed eyes.

Will had no time to reply because Jack attacked him again and they continued their fight.

"Kate, find the Commodore!" Turner finally yelled and he smiled when the girl immediately ran back upstairs.

"Kate?" Jack repeated with an upturned mouth. "She nearly killed me when I called her Katy".

"Wrong nickname", Will told him and he blocked another blow.

Katherine went into Will's room and she opened the window and looked down to find stacks of hay. "It would not hurt", she murmured and she jumped out. However, she landed heavily and a pained groan escaped her. "It hurts", she rasped and held her stomach for a bit before she got up slowly. She bunched her skirt up and ran as fast as she could. She slipped through the people around and it was not long before she found James standing alone as he looked around him.

"James!" She called hurriedly, not bothering with his title. "Found him!"

The Commodore nodded to her and he called some men as they followed her to Mr. Brown's shop. They tried opening the door but found that it was locked.

"Break it down", Norrington ordered. They entered just in time to see Mr. Brown smashing his bottle on the back of the pirate's head, rendering him unconscious.

"Excellent work, Mr. Brown", the Commodore praised as he placed his gun back. "You've assisted in the capture of a dangerous fugitive".

"Just doing my civic duty, sir", the man said and his words slurred.

Will raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He was certain that it was pretty clear he had done most of the work.

"I trust you will always remember that this is the day that Captain Jack Sparrow nearly escaped", Norrington said as he looked down at the pirate. "Take him away".

The sudden noise of something falling caught everyone's attention and they turned around to find that it was Katherine who had fainted. Will was immediately by her side while Norrington nodded to his men who took Sparrow away. He then knelt on the other side of the girl and he clenched his teeth. "Right, the corset", he murmured and did not look up when he felt Will's baffled look on his face.

"Corset?" The younger man repeated.

James gave him a brief account of what had happened to Elizabeth while he turned Katherine on her side. "We have to loosen the corset so she can breathe", he ended but Will moved back, clearly indicating that he would not help. Katherine was a scary woman, he knew that alright.

Norrington narrowed his eyes at him and he whispered an apology as he undid the back of the dress and loosened the offending object. Katherine took in a deep breath and her eyes flew open. "Oh, sweet mother! I can finally breathe", she mumbled but froze when she felt two presences.

"Katherine?"

She sat up and found the Commodore next to her and Will a few feet away. A furious blush rose up her face when she realized that her clothes no more felt confining. She looked at Will with a glare but he pointed towards the older man and she redirected her glare to the latter. They were surprised when she suddenly chuckled. "Thanks", she told them. "This thing was killing me".

"Uh, you're welcome", Norrington replied although hesitantly.


Katherine sneaked into Elizabeth's room and she found her in bed with a book in her hands but there was a distant look in her eyes.

"What did you tell him?" She suddenly asked, catching the older girl by surprise.

"Tell what to who?" Elizabeth asked and she closed her book, setting it on the table next her.

Katherine sat on her bed with her legs tucked under her body and she took a pillow, hugging it to her chest. "James' proposal, you silly!" She said with a teasing smile.

"He took me by surprise", Elizabeth confessed. "And before I could get a word in, I fell down".

"Surprise?" Katherine asked in disbelief. "Liz, it has been quite some time since I could see how much he loves you. And you noticed nothing?"

"I-I didn't g-give it much thought", the older girl defended weakly.

"Ah, of course", Katherine said with a cheeky smile. "There's William Turner, after all".

Elizabeth gaped at the rightful accusation but she said nothing, which sent her cousin in a giggling fit.

Suddenly, the sound of canons were heard and both girls jumped from the fright it gave them. The smiles were wiped off their faces when the candle went out. Elizabeth took Katherine's hand into her own and they went out on the balcony. They were horrified when they saw the chaos which seemed to slowly spread inland.

"We need to get out or hide somewhere", Katherine said and the two of them rushed out of the room. They were halfway down the stairs when they saw the Butler going to open the door.

"Don't!" Elizabeth screamed but she was too late. She muffled a scream when someone shot the Butler and Katherine immediately pulled her away to go back inside.

"Hide somewhere", Katherine ordered her. "I'll distract at least a few of them in the meantime".

Elizabeth nodded and they went separate ways. Katherine went in her room and she opened the drawer, taking out her father's dagger, and she slipped on her boots. She then ran out of her room and saw a man right in front of her. "Sorry, mate", she growled and she slashed the dagger across his chest. The man stumbled but he did not fall. Katherine narrowed her eyes and summoning her courage, she attacked him and began pushing him back towards the stairs. She faked a punch to the right, dropped down to sweep his legs out and with one push, he was sent tumbling down the stairs. Katherine went down and she took out two other men but one of them managed to hurt her. She ignored the pain on her shoulder and she ran out as fast as she could. She dodged flying weapons and bodies, and she helped people around to bring down some of the enemies.

A man suddenly tackled her from the side and Katherine was sent sprawling to the ground. She hissed when he grabbed her hair to bring her head up. She glared at the grinning man and the expression was replaced by shock when she kneed him where it would hurt the most. However, her nightdress restrained her leg and the man was only bent double from the pain. With a growl, she punched him as hard as she could and she was satisfied when he fell unconscious.

"Stupid dress", she murmured and she used the dagger to cut it until it reached a few inches above her knees. She stood up with a determined look and she made a beeline for the fort. During the time that it took for her to find James, the pirates were retreating and Port Royal was left on its own.

"James!" She called when she found the man ordering his officers. He turned to her once the men were gone to fulfill their tasks and her state took him by surprise. Her long hair was messed up, the dirty white nightdress looked like it had been cut hurriedly, she was wearing her boots and a dagger was in her hands. Her face was dirty from gunpowder and blood had soaked the cloth on her left shoulder.

"What happened to you? You're bleeding!"

"Doesn't matter", she told him grimly. "Elizabeth needs help".

"I-I sent a few men to the Manor", he replied and he took her elbow, leading her down to where men of the navy were being taken care of by nurses and doctors. He called one of the nurses and the three of them went to his office where the Governor was pacing around anxiously. His eyes widened when he saw his niece.

"K-Katherine! Dear Lord, what happened to you, child?"

"I got caught in a few fights while getting out. I took down a few men to give Elizabeth time to hide but I don't know if she's safe", she explained calmly.

"Miss, I'll take care of your wound", the nurse said and she led Katherine to a chair. Suddenly feeling tired, the raven haired girl fell heavily and her shoulders slumped. The Commodore and the Governor turned their backs to them as she was asked to take off the upper part of the torn dress. The nurse cleaned the wound and she bandaged it tightly, giving Katherine a few words of caution before leaving. Governor Swann wrapped his coat around the girl's shoulders and she gave him a brief smile.

"Where did you learn how to fight?" He asked her curiously.

"My father", she said, giving the partial truth. It was true that Jonathan has taught her a few defensive moves when she was younger but it was Will who taught her how to handle a blade. She felt that if she had included him in her answer, he would have been in trouble.

"And who tore your dress?" He added with slight anger in his eyes.

"I did", she replied and was amused at his embarrassment. "It was getting in the way".

"Sir", a man called as he entered the office. "Miss Swann has been taken by the pirates".


"Miss", a maid called as she poked her head inside the room. "Mr. Turner is here to see you".

"Send him up", Katherine replied. As soon as the maid was gone, she pulled on brown breeches and a loose white shirt with a vest and her long black coat on top. She placed her dagger in its place on her belt along with the spyglass. She wore the chain with the ring and took the hat from her table. It was not the one that her father used to wear with his uniform but he had once told her that this one was his favorite. It was plain dark brown and had three corners to it.

"Kate", Will called as he entered her room as if in a rush. He frowned at her attire.

"Where are you going?" He asked her.

"Wherever you plan to, Turner", she replied with a smirk and he gave her a knowing smile.


There you go! :D Chapter Two, down. Reviews, please! :D

~IcedLady~