Chapter IV: Making Tough Choices

Disclaimer: read chapter I

Will woke up and looked to see that he wasn't outside anymore. His surroundings were familiar. He sat up and looked around to see that he was inside Mr. Brown's blacksmith place. He was curious to know how he end up in here.

"Will!" He got his answer, when he turned around and saw Elizabeth running toward him and hugging him tightly, "You're alright! Thank God!"

Will didn't process what happened, so he slightly pushed Elizabeth from the embrace and looked at her questionably, "Elizabeth, you're here?"

Elizabeth nodded, "Of course. Melanie helped me escaped the mansion."

"M-Melanie? W-Where is she?"

Elizabeth began to tear up, "They took her, Will! They've taken my sister! We were planning to escape together, but they took her before she could come with me!"

Will wrapped his arms around her with comfort, "Sh. Sh. Sh. Don't worry, Elizabeth. We'll get her back."

"But we don't know where she is!"

"We'll figure it out," Will replied, "We'll find her."

"Y-You promise?" Elizabeth looked at Will with tears in her eyes.

Will knew he couldn't promise something he couldn't keep, but he will promise to do whatever it was necessary to get Melanie back, "I promise, Elizabeth." Will helped Elizabeth up on her feet, "We better find your father and let him know you're alright."

Elizabeth nodded, "You're right. He's probably worry sick about me."

Will took Elizabeth's hand, and they both walked out the shop and looked around the town. There were sunken ships, soldiers carrying dead bodies around, and mothers comforting their scared children. "I officially hate piracy," Elizabeth grumbled angrily.

Will didn't hear what Elizabeth, because he tried to look for Governor Swann. He didn't release Elizabeth's wrist, even when they found Norrington and her father. Will and Elizabeth walked up the steps and faced Norrington worriedly, "They've taken her! They've taken Melanie!"

Norrington didn't look at Will, he kept his focus on his map on the table, "Mr. Murtogg, remove this man." Murtogg grabbed Will's arm, but Will yanked away from his grip.

"We have to find her!" Elizabeth stepped away from Will and toward the Norrington's table, "We have to save her from them!" Norrington, the soliders, even her father finally noticed her standing there.

Norrington stared at Elizabeth in disbelief, while Governor Swann smiled and rushed toward her. "Elizabeth!" Governor Swann hugged Elizabeth and gave her kisses on her forehead, "Thank heavens!" He lifted up Elizabeth's chin to face him, "Are you alright?! Did they hurt you?!"

Elizabeth shook her head, "No, Father, I-I'm fine."

"What happened to you? Where's your sister?!"

"Melanie helped me escape, when our home was invaded by pirates! Melanie was right behind me, but they've taken her!"

Governor Swann shook his head in disbelief, and one tear fell from his eyes, "Oh no." He hugged Elizabeth tightly, "But I'm so thankful that you're alright."

"We have to find Melanie!" Will cried frantically, "We must save her!"

"I highly doubt she was taken, Mr. Turner," Norrington said.

Elizabeth and Will looked at Norrington in shock. "What do you mean?!" Elizabeth demanded.

"Miss Swann, I'm sure your sister wasn't captured. She probably ran away before they could capture her."

"Don't be ridicules!" Will cried angrily at Norrington, "Melanie would NEVER run away! We were under attack! How could you say that?!"

"I was there, James," Elizabeth said, "Melanie was right behind me, and I saw those pirates take her away. She didn't run away, she was taken! We have to find her RIGHT NOW!"

"Where do we start, Elizabeth?" Governor Swann asked, "If any of you have any information concerning my daughter, please share it!" He looked away from them and stared at the fort in front of him.

"That Jack Sparrow," Murtogg spoke up, "He talked about the Black Pearl."

"Mentioned it, is more what he did," Mullroy added.

Ask him where it is," Will suggested, "Make a deal with him. He could lead us to it."

"No," Norrington refused in a bored tone, "the pirates who invaded this Fort left Sparrow locked in his cell ergo they are not his allies." Norrington turned to Elizabeth's father, "Governor, we will establish their most likely course."

Suddenly, Will pounded his hand on the table in frustration, "That's not good enough!"

Elizabeth and Governor Swann looked at Will, surprised by his response. Norrington, however, didn't flinch, "Mr. Turner, you are not a military man. You are not a sailor. You are a blacksmith." He led Will away from the table, while speaking, "This is not the moment for rash actions."

"I know you don't like Melanie, Commodore," Will whispered in a harsh tone.

"I maybe not a fan of her, but it doesn't mean I don't care for her," Norrington replied, "Don't ever make the mistake that you're the only person, who cares for Miss Swann."

Elizabeth writhed from her father's grip and walked toward Will and Norrington. "Elizabeth, where are you going?!" Governor Swann demanded, "Get back here!"

Elizabeth glared at her father and Norrington sternly, "Unlike you all, I'm not going to sit here and do nothing! My sister needs me!" She grabbed Will's arm and lead him away from the fort, "Come on, Will."

"Elizabeth!" Governor Swann shouted, "Get back here!"

"Elizabeth!" Norrington called for her as well, but Elizabeth didn't respond and kept on walking.

"What are we going to do, Will?" Elizabeth asked.

"Nothing. I, on the other hand, am going to see Jack."

Elizabeth stopped in front of Will and glared at him confusingly, "What do you mean?"

"Listen, I know you have a grudge against Sparrow for what he did to you, but he knows about the Black Pearl."

"I wasn't talking about that!"

Will furrowed his brows at her questionably, "What were you talking about?"

"I'm talking about you going there alone. I want to come along!"

"I'm sorry, Elizabeth, but you must stay here."

"What?!" Elizabeth cried angrily, "Why?!"

"It's too dangerous. Your father is missing one daughter, he doesn't want to lose another one."

"But I WANT to help!"

"Then help by staying here. Keep your father company."

Elizabeth shook her head, "I can't do that, Will. I don't want to stay here and do nothing!"

"But this is dangerous, Elizabeth! Last night, you could've been killed or taken by those pirates too!"

"But I didn't!" Elizabeth rebutted, "I know what I'm about to enter is dangerous, but it's the right thing to do! Melanie helped me escape, now it's my turn to return the favor. After all, she is my sister, adopted or not! I'm going with you and that is final!" Elizabeth stomped past flabbergasted Will and headed for the Port Royal prison.

Will didn't have time to argue with Elizabeth, so he ran toward Elizabeth to talk to the person they would want to speak with, Jack Sparrow.

~POTC~

Morning in the Black Pearl, Melanie was pacing around the room, figuring out what to do and how to escape the ship. She tried to escape in the middle of the night, but the doors were locked.

Melanie stopped pacing when she heard the doors clicked and saw the doors wide open to see Barbossa again. He stepped inside and shut the doors behind him, "G'moring, Miss Parker. Sleep well?"

"Not really," Melanie said as she turned away from him.

"Sorry to hear that, Miss Parker," Barbossa said in an amused tone, "but I'm sure you'll get used to sleeping in a ship soon enough."

Melanie glared at him, before asking, "When will you let me go? You have that stupid trinket. I'm useless to you!"

"Miss Parker, belay your talk. You have value, there's no doubt about that."

"What do you want from me?" Melanie demanded, "Is it money? You want money? Just name the price, I can figure it out somehow."

Barbossa smirked at her, "Ye think you were invited here for ransom?"

Melanie rolled her eyes at him, "Invited? Try kidnapped! Look my father is the governor of Port Royal, just name your price!"

Barbossa furrowed his brows questionably, "Your father is a governor?"

Melanie shrugged, "Yeah. You didn't know that?"

Barbossa walked closer to her and pulled out the medallion from his coat, "If you're the governor's daughter, then, how did you get this?!"

Melanie looked at the medallion on Barbossa's hand then glared back at him, "I'm not going to tell you damn thing! All we know is that thing is not yours nor mine."

"How did you get this?!"

"I told you I was holding it for a friend! How many times must I tell you that?!"

"How many times must I ask you this question? Who is your friend?!" Barbossa demanded. Melanie turned away from him, but he grabbed her arms to face him and shook her roughly. "WHO IS IT?!" Barbossa shouted.

"You didn't tell me what you want from me, so why should I tell you anything?! After what you have done to me!" Melanie pushed him away from her and sat down on a chair to face Barbossa's angry glare. "When can I leave?"

"When I get what I want. If that happens, then I might consider letting you go."

"I wasn't talking about leaving the ship," Melanie replied coldly, "I was talking about leaving this room! This room is a little stuffy. I want fresh air." Barbossa stared at her for a few moments before laughing loudly. Melanie looked up at him confusingly, "What is so funny?!"

"Do ye think I'm stupid to ye?" Barbossa asked while laughing.

Melanie paused for a moment before asking, "Do you really want me to answer that?" Barbossa sneered at her before he turned, heading for the double doors. Melanie looked at Barbossa, later regretted what she just said.

Melanie sighed heavily, "No wait! Wait! Wait!" Barbossa stopped and turned back to face her. "That was a stupid question. It's just that first thing a prisoner does when they're captured was to be mean to their captor. It's normal. So don't take it personal, alright?"

Barbossa didn't say a word, all he did was looking at her and being still as a statue.

"Why would you even ask you were stupid in the first place?" Melanie demanded.

"Do ye think I don't know what you're planning on doing?" Barbossa asked, "If I let ye set foot on deck, you'll escape the first chance you'll get!"

"I won't!" Melanie reassured him. "I won't try to escape. I promise. Look, even if I do want to escape, where will I go? I have no sense of direction. If I escape this ship, I'll be lost in the middle of the ocean! I don't even know where home is... and where north is," Melanie added the last part quietly, "I would rather stay here, then be lost."

Barbossa paused then shrugged, "Ye may have a point, lass."

"So when can I leave this room?"

"Until ye earn my trust," Barbossa answered simply.

"How would I do that if I'm stuck in here?!" Melanie demanded as she gestured the room.

"Ye see that's exactly the point. If ye stay here and be a good lass, I'll consider letting out," Barbossa opened the double doors, "Until then, ye better get yourself comfortable, 'cause you're going to be here for a while." He smirked at Melanie one more time before he left the room and locked the doors behind him.

Melanie let out a groan in frustration, "Pirate!"

"Thank ye!" Barbossa said through the door.

"UGH!" Melanie cried out as she laid her head on the table.

~POTC~

In the Port Royal jail, Jack was trying to pick the lock with a bone and was begging for it to be unlock, "Please..." Suddenly, he heard a door open and footsteps. He immediately left the bone in the lock and lied on the ground casually.

Elizabeth and Will ran downstairs and looked through every cell, until they've found Jack lying there. "You," Will called out to him, "Sparrow!"

Jack lifted his head up to face Will, "Aye."

"You are familiar with that ship, The Black Pearl?" Will asked.

Jack paused for a moment before shrugging, "I've heard of it."

"Do you know where the ship is heading to?" Elizabeth demanded.

Jack looked up and noticed Elizabeth standing next to Will. "Ah, Miss Swann," Jack greeted her with a smirk, "You can't stay away, can you, love?"

"Wretch!" Elizabeth snapped angrily, "If it weren't for these bars, I would've strangled you already for what you did to me yesterday."

"That's not really friendly."

"Well, let me assure you that we're not friends. Now, I order you to tell us where the Black Pearl is going!"

Jack chuckled, "Is that the way to get an answer from me, Miss Swann? You have to really persuade me... better than what you're doing right now." Jack turned back to Will and glared at him in confusion, "But you... You seem very familiar? Have I threaten you before?"

"I make a point of avoiding familiarity with pirates," Will replied coldly.

"Ah," Jack shrugged, "Well, then it would be a shame to put a black mark on your record. So, if you'll excuse me?" Jack was about to lay back down.

"Jack," Will began softly, that stopped Jack's movement, "we really want to know where the Black Pearl is! Please tell us! Where is it?"

"Ye don't know the story, do you mates?" Jack asked. Will and Elizabeth's silence was answer enough for Jack. He sighed heavily, "Captain Barbossa and his crew of miscreants sail from the dreaded Isla de Muerta. It's an island that cannot be found except... by those who already know where it is."

"The ship's real enough," Will said, "Therefore its anchorage must be a real place. Where is it?"

Jack laid back down and studied his nails, "Why ask me?"

"Because you owe me, Jack!" Elizabeth explained, "You threatened my life!"

"No," Jack disagreed, "I only threatened you a little. Besides, I don't owe you a thing. Don't forget that I saved your life, so technically we're squared. I need better reasons, why I should help you both. Savvy?"

"You're a pirate," Elizabeth added coldly.

"And you two want to turn pirates yourselves, is that it?" Jack asked with a tone of amusement.

Will grabbed the bars and shook them lightly, "Never!"

Elizabeth sighed heavily, "The pirates took my sister."

Jack sat up to face them, "Oh, so the annoying lass is going to have an adventure after all. I see. Well, if you two are intending to rescue your beloved sister and friend, you'll have to do it alone, mate. I see no profit in it for me."

"We can get you out of here," Will said instantly.

Elizabeth glared at Will in shock, "What?"

"What?" Jack asked Will, while mocking Elizabeth's voice, "How's that? The key's run off."

"I helped build these cells. These are half pin-barrel hinges," Will turned around and lifted up a bench, then placed it at the cell door, "With the right leverage and the proper application of strength, the door will lift free."

Jack stared at Will for a few moments, before asking, "What's your name?"

"Will Turner."

"That will be short for William, I imagine," Jack assumed, "Good, strong name. No doubt, named for your father, eh?"

Will looked at him suspiciously before he nodded, "Yes."

"Uh-huh." Jack stood up, "Well, Mr. Turner, Miss Swann, I've changed me mind. If you spring me from this cell, I swear on pain of death I shall take you to the Black Pearl and your bonny lass. Do we have an accord?"

Elizabeth looked at Jack, then at Will cautiously, "Will, think about what you're doing."

"I have, Elizabeth," Will replied quietly, before reaching his hand through the bars and shook Jack's hand, "Agreed."

Elizabeth sighed in disappointment. She wasn't going to enjoy Jack's company, when they began their quest to find Melanie and the Pearl.

"Agreed," Jack smirked happily, "Get me out."

Will lifted the bench, breaking the door free, "Hurry. Someone will have heard that!"

"Not without my effects," Jack said as he grabbed his weapon from the wall and ran toward the exit. Will was rushing after Jack, along with Elizabeth, who was against the idea of letting Jack tag along.

"Will, why did you agree to set Jack free?" Elizabeth demanded, "We can't trust him!"

"I don't have a choice," Will explained, "He knows where the island is…" He looked at Elizabeth before suggesting innocently, "If you don't want to go near Jack, you can stay here if you want."

"Will!" Elizabeth shook her head, "Nice try, but you won't be getting rid of me that easily." Elizabeth walked past Will, who stood there dumbfounded.

"I wasn't trying to get rid of you!" Will explained, "I'm just concerned about your safety!" Will sighed heavily as he ran, catching up to Elizabeth and Jack.

~POTC~

A half an hour later, Jack and Will left Elizabeth at the mansion, without her noticing. She was inside the house, changing clothes. Elizabeth was planning on using Melanie's secret clothing, but had a hard time finding them. Because she was taking too long, Jack decided to ditch Elizabeth and left her behind along with Will, who didn't want to endanger Elizabeth.

Will and Jack were under a bridge, staring at the Dauntless ship in front of them. "We're going to steal the ship?" Will asked in shock, "That ship?"

"Commandeer," Jack corrected him, "We're going to commandeer that ship. Nautical term. One question about your business, boy, or there's no use going. This girl? Mel is her name, right?"

Will nodded, "Yes."

"Right. How far are you willing to go to save her?"

"I'd die for her!" Will answered boldly without hesitation.

"Oh, good," Jack smiled, "No worries, then."

"I'd die for her too!" a woman answered from behind. Jack and Will turned to see Elizabeth standing behind them, wearing Melanie's white blouse, brown trousers and boots. She pulled her wavy hair back in a low ponytail.

"Miss Swann, what are ye doing here?" Jack asked curiously as he examined her outfit, "Dressed like that?"

Elizabeth crossed her arms and looked at the men disapprovingly, "Finding you two before you could leave without me."

"How did you know we left, love?" Jack asked.

"I could see you two through Melanie's window!" Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at them and hissed at them coldly.

"How did you find us?" Will asked.

"I followed you. I can't believe you were about to leave me, Will. I told you I want to help!"

Will put his arms on Elizabeth's shoulders, "I know you do, Elizabeth, but this is not like the adventure books, you and Melanie read. Alright? This is dangerous, and I can't put you in danger. What if you were in trouble, and I'm not there to save you?"

"Will, I can do this! I want to do this! My sister needs us. She helped me escape, and now it's my turn to repay her. Danger or not, I'm going. Is that clear?!"

Jack leaned over to Will's ear, before whispering to him, "She's a feisty one." He smirked, "I like feisty."

Will groaned, "Elizabeth, what about your father? He'll be worry sick, if he finds out you're not home. You can't put him through that."

"Will," Elizabeth paused for minute, thinking about her father, before facing Will again, "he needs to learn to let me go. I'm old enough to do stuff on my own without my father with me. I'm not a child anymore."

Will leaned against the stone bridge and rubbed his temples, "I'm not going to change your mind, aren't I?"

Elizabeth shook her head, "No. I'm going, whether you and Jack like it or not."

"I like it a lot, love," Jack raised his hand, before frowning, "but the clothes. They don't flatter you at all."

"Jack," Will turned to him, "are we going to steal a ship or not?"

"We're going to steal a ship?" Elizabeth asked in disbelief.

"We need a ride, don't we, love?" Jack asked rhetorically. He looked at a row boat nearby and smirked, as an idea formed inside his brain.

The trio carried a rowboat underwater with Jack in the lead, Elizabeth in the middle, and Will in the back. "This is either madness or brilliance," Will said.

"It's remarkable how often those two traits coincide," Jack commented.

"I hope we don't get captured," Elizabeth said nervously.

"Hopefully, we won't, Elizabeth," Will reassured them.

"Just do what I say, mates, and we won't," Jack said.

All three made it to the Dauntless. Elizabeth and Jack, who carried a pistol, walked down the steps. Will got out his sword and jumped over the stair rail. All the soldiers from the Dauntless didn't notice the trio, until...

"Everyone stay calm!" Jack cried out, "We are taking over the ship!"

"Aye! Avast!" Will yelled with a pirate voice. All the soldiers burst into laughter. Elizabeth groaned and face palmed. Jack glared at Will, feeling embarrassed for his action.

"This ship cannot be crewed by three men," Gillette said with a smirk, "You'll never make it out of the bay."

Three?! Elizabeth thought to herself, Don't they know I'm a girl?!

"Son," Jack pulled out his pistol and aimed it at Gillette's nose, "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. Savvy?"

After kicking all the soldiers especially Gillette out the ship and into a rowboat, Jack, Will, and Elizabeth were ready to set sail. "I don't feel right about stealing a wonderful ship from them," Elizabeth said in guilt.

"Well, we need a wonderful ship, love," Jack replied, "It's better than riding a rowboat."

"Elizabeth," Will was about to ask Elizabeth a question, but Elizabeth already knew what he was going to say.

"Will!" Elizabeth put her hand up to stop him from speaking, "don't. Don't ask me anymore. I know what I want. I want to save my sister from Barbossa. And if stealing a ship and sailing with a pirate is the way to find my sister and the Black Pearl, then so be it!"

Will sighed, "I just wish you could consider."

"I have, and I want to do this. Please, Will, don't question me anymore. I already helped steal a ship, I can't back down now."

Will looked at Elizabeth for a long moment, before nodding slowly, "You're right. I'm sorry. I question your decision anymore."

"I just don't understand why we do need to bring Jack along."

"He's the only man, who knows about the Black Pearl, Barbossa, and where Isla de Muerta is. We talked about this."

Elizabeth sighed, "I know." Will and Elizabeth looked over and noticed the Interceptor heading their way. "Oh no." They rushed toward Jack, warning him about the Interceptor."

"Here they come!" Will warned Jack while looking at the Interceptor. Jack looked over at Will's direction and noticed the Interceptor.

"What do we do?" Elizabeth demanded. The only response that Jack gave Elizabeth was a smirk on his face that left Elizabeth confused. Jack put his gun away stayed out of sight followed by Elizabeth and Will, who were watching Norrington and his men board the Dauntless.

"Search every cabin! Every hold, down to the bilges!" Norrington ordered his men, as they were searching for the trio. Jack grabbed a rope and swung onto the Interceptor. Will held onto the rope with one hand, while holding Elizabeth with the other. Will pulled out his sword and cut every rope that was connected with the Dauntless. Jack was in charge of the helm and began sailing a safe distance from the Dauntless. Norrington noticed the Interceptor sailing away, "Sailors, back to the Interceptor! Now!"

Norrington's men pulled their weapons out and started shooting their guns at the trio. Elizabeth ducked down, avoiding from getting shot. One sailor tried to swing his way to the Interceptor, but he ended up in the water.

"Thank you, Commodore," Jack thanked Norrington, "for getting us ready to make way. We'd have had a hard time of it by ourselves."

Elizabeth glared at Jack, "Was this your plan, Jack?"

Jack smirked at her, "Aye. You have to stop doubting me, love. You can see that I can be useful."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and faced the Dauntless that was shooting cannons at them, but they were out of range. Elizabeth closed her eyes, whispering to herself, "Hold on, Mel. I'm coming."

~POTC~

Melanie was sitting in front of the door, trying to pick the lock on double doors. So far, she had no luck, because she didn't know how to pick a lock. Suddenly, Melanie saw the knob jiggled a little. "Damn it," Melanie grumbled as she rushed back to the chair, acting natural.

She looked at the double doors and saw Barbossa coming inside and holding a green apple and a goblet of wine. "Lunch time, Miss Parker," Barbossa laid the goblet on the table and held the apple in front of Melanie's face, "Have a bite."

Melanie glared at Barbossa angrily, "Do you seriously think I stupid?"

"What makes ye say that?" Barbossa asked innocently with a smirk on his face.

"I'm not going to eat that apple, you obviously poisoned it."

Barbossa chuckled, "There's no sense to be killing ye, Miss Parker."

"I don't believe you. If it's not poisoned, prove it."

Barbossa rolled his eyes and took a big bite of the apple, letting the juices drip down his beard. He tossed it back to Melanie, who caught with both hands. "Satisfied, Miss Parker?" Barbossa asked.

Melanie looked at the apple, before taking a small bite. Then, she scrunched her nose, once she tasted the apple.

Barbossa groaned, "What now?"

"I wish you have red apples, the greens ones are always sour."

"Well, too bad, Miss Parker. The green ones are always my favorite. The red ones are always too sweet."

"So, I like sweet apples. I don't know why you like the green ones."

"I'll be back later," Barbossa walked toward the door, planning to leave.

"Wait," Melanie said, stopping Barbossa from walking closer to the door.

Barbossa looked at Melanie confusedly, "What is it ye want, Miss Parker?"

"I..." Melanie sighed heavily, "I-I don't want to be alone, right now... Can you stay just for a little bit?"

"Why?"

"Because I'm bored to death in here with no one to talk to, and you won't let me out. At least you could do is keep me company."

"I'm a captain, Miss Parker. I'm a busy man."

Melanie nodded, "I know, but staying here for five minutes isn't going to kill you. Can we please talk?"

Barbossa looked at Melanie's pleading eyes, before shook his head with hesitation, "No. Sorry, lass. Can't do that now."

Melanie groaned in boredom, "But can I least come outside to get some fresh air? Please?!"

"How would I know ye won't escape?"

Melanie shook her head, "I won't! You can keep an eye on me if you want, or send somebody to watch me! I just want to leave this prison! Please?!"

Barbossa paused for a moment, then he turned to the door and noticed Melanie's hairpin inside the lock, "Now what do we have here?" He yanked the hair pin out and gave Melanie a serious look.

Melanie smiled sheepishly, "I-I can explain that."

"Can ye now?" Barbossa questioned with a smirk.

Melanie nodded, "Of course. I was trying to pick the lock."

"Why?"

"So I can leave this prison!" Melanie shouted, "Let me out of this room, please! I'm begging you!"

"Until I learn to trust ye, ye need to learn not to try to escape this ship."

"I wasn't planning on escaping the ship!" Melanie cried helplessly, "I was planning on escaping this room!"

"Well, I don't think ye need this anymore," Barbossa placed the hairpin inside his coat and opened the door about to leave the room.

"At least tell me when I can leave."

Barbossa faced Melanie again and shook his head, "I can't answer that yet. I might let ye out, but first... Ye have to earn me trust. After what you did to me lock, you're going to be in here longer than I want ye to." He left the room and locked the door behind him.

Melanie groaned in boredom again. She turned her head and saw the green apple begging to be eaten on the table. Melanie was a little hungry and was thankful that Barbossa brought her something to eat. Melanie took the apple and took another bite. She scrunched her nose again, tasting the sourness from the apple. "Why on earth does he like the green ones?" she asked herself. Melanie took the goblet of wine and drank the whole thing.

~POTC~

At the Interceptor, Will was sharpening his sword, while telling about his past, "When I was a lad living in England, my mother raised me by herself. After she died, I came out here, looking for my father. That's how I met Mel."

"Is that so?" Jack asked, turning to face Elizabeth, "I thought she was your sister, love?"

Elizabeth glared at Jack, "She is, but she's not my biological sister if that's what you mean."

"She's not?"

Elizabeth shook her head, "I found Will and Mel in the ocean on the crossing from England. After that day and getting to know Mel, my father decided to adopt her and make her part of the family. I always wanted a sister. Melanie is the best. We were more than sisters, we are best friends."

"I thought there was something suspicious about her," Jack smirked, "I knew you two weren't alike. Although, she does remind me of somebody, but I couldn't quite place it."

"Who does she remind you of?" Will asked curiously.

Jack shrugged, "I'm not sure. If I see her again, I might know."

"Well, anyway," Will stood up to face Jack, "My father, Will Turner. At the jail, it was only after you learned my name that you agreed to help. Since that's what I wanted, I didn't press the matter. I'm not a simpleton, Jack. You knew my father."

"I knew him," Jack said calmly, "Probably one the few who knew him as William Turner. Everyone else just called him Bootstrap or Bootstrap Bill."

Elizabeth and Will glared at Jack questionably. "Bootstrap?" Elizabeth asked.

"Bootstrap?" Will asked the same question.

"Good man," Jack explained, "Good pirate. I swear you look just like him."

Elizabeth glared at Will questionably, "Your father is a pirate?"

Will shook his head, "No. It's not true. He was a merchant sailor. A good, respectable man who obeyed the law."

"He was a bloody pirate!" Jack disagreed, "A scallywag!"

"My father was not a pirate!" Will argued as he took out his sword and pointed at Jack.

Jack sighed heavily, "Put it away, son. It's not worth the effort."

"Melanie could've killed you!"

"But she didn't. Be thankful for that, because if she did, I wouldn't be here helping you two," Jack turned the helm around, and the sails swung towards Will.

"Whoa!" Elizabeth ducked down avoiding the sails, "Will, get down!" Will however wasn't paying attention. The sails knocked Will out of the ship. Will looked down and saw the open ocean below him. Will was clinging on the sails, trying to hold on. "What do you think you're doing?!" Elizabeth furiously demanded, "I order you to put Will back at once!"

Jack rolled his eyes, "Oh, shut it, Miss Swann."

Elizabeth's mouth dropped in shock, "NO! How dare you talk to me that way?!"

Jack ignored Elizabeth and paid attention to Will, "Now as long as you're hanging there, pay attention. The only rules that really matter are these. What a man can do, and what a man can't do. For instance, you can accept that your father is a pirate and a good, or you cannot. But pirate is in your blood, boy. So you have to square with that someday. Now, me, for example, I can let you drown, but I can't bring this ship to Tortuga all by me onesy; because I highly doubt that Elizabeth will help me after I let you drown."

"You got that right, Jack!" Elizabeth said in a harsh tone, "And it's Miss Swann to you!"

Jack was getting annoyed by Elizabeth and was dismissing Elizabeth's comment, "Whatever. So..." Jack turned the helm back around. Will and the sails were moving away from the ocean. Will released the sails and lied back on the deck.

Elizabeth rushed toward Will's side worriedly, "Will, are you alright?!"

Will slowly nodded, "Y-Yeah, I'm fine." He and Elizabeth looked up and saw Jack pointing a sword at Will.

"Can you said under the command of a pirate?" Jack flipped the sword over, holding the blade and offering the handle to Will. "Or can you not?"

Will looked at the sword for a moment, then at Elizabeth, and back at the sword, before hesitantly taking it. He glared at Jack in question, "Tortuga?"

Jack smirked at Will, "Tortuga."

A/N: I just want to say Merry early Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone.

So anyway, Elizabeth chose to go with Will and Jack to find Melanie. I read a bunch of fanfics, and it always involve an OC helping Will and Jack rescue Elizabeth from Barbossa. But I decided to do something different. I must warn you, the future chapters will have surprises you won't expect to happen. I won't be a spoiler alert, so don't ask for spoilers. I know nothing exciting happened to Melanie yet, but there will be plenty later on. I hope you've enjoyed this chapter, and I'll write the next one soon.

Thank you grapejuice101, DisneyFreak-Lover, and AL19 for reviewing. I also want to thank the readers that favorite and followed this story. Please review and tell me your opinion!