Alice very quickly decided that she did not like the Black Pearl more than the dingy, for some odd reason she found herself feel much more ill upon this vessel than the other. She stumbled across deck for the umpteenth time that morning wondering where in the world she could find something to sooth her stomach.

"Haven't found your sea legs, have you lass?"

Alice jumped at the gravelly voice behind her and swung around, only to come face to face with the former Captain, "I suppose I haven't, Mister Barbossa. Have you any idea how I could solve this dilemma?"

"That's none of my business is it, Miss Primm. Or is it Mrs Primm?"

Alice raised an eyebrow, "It's Miss Primm presently, soon to be Mrs Montgomery. How do you know my name, did Jack tell you?"

"Maybe." He began to walk off and Alice scowled at his retreating form, "You'll find your sea legs soon, Alice. Don't you worry."

The young woman could do nothing but curse the cryptic nature of that conversation, "Why couldn't he just answer my questions?"

"Why couldn't who answer your questions?"

Alice jumped again and this time found Jack standing beside her, "Captain Sparrow, so nice to see you. I was referring to Mister Barbossa, does he always speak in such a cryptic manner?"

Jack grimaced, "Only when he knows something he shouldn't. He cause you much trouble, love?"

"Not really." Alice said with a shrug, "I was wondering if you told him my name, because I certainly didn't."

"Don't think I did, lass. We're going to have to keep a good watch over that slimy wretch."

Alice nodded and Jack ruffled her hair, she glared at him, it was dishevelled enough without him disturbing it all the time. The pirate gave Alice a lopsided smirk in response to her glare and headed off back to the wheel which was currently being manned by the fellow with the parrot on his shoulder.

"Alice." Jack said, "Can you do anything?"

"Pardon?"

"Can you do anything? Cast an anchor, scale the rigging, man the crow's nest, hoist the colours, anything?"

Alice blinked, every one of those things made absolutely no sense to her, "I know the wheel turns the ship…"

Jack groaned, "First of all, love. That's called the helm; secondly, I can't have you on my ship just lazing about all day, savvy?"

"I have not been lazing about, Sparrow. It isn't my fault that I am uneducated about ships, I can read maps though."

The pirate seemed to consider this for a few seconds before nodding, "Can you cook?"

"Not really, but I'm sure I can learn."

"Alright then, from this day forth you are my navigator and the chef's assistant, are we clear?"

"Yes, Captain Sparrow."


Charles was panicking, it had been nearly two weeks and Alice still hadn't been found. He had searched the entirety of London and had the royal guard on lookout for his missing fiancé, Mrs Primm had barely left her bedroom since Alice went missing and all the maids in her household were beginning to fret immensely. After the ninth day, Charles took it upon himself to take up a temporary residence in Primm manor until Alice was found.

This afternoon he decided to search Alice's room for what felt like the millionth time, that was where he last saw her go before her disappearance, he remembered just how long he sat in the dining room, just waiting for her to walk down the stairs that day, but she never did. Everything in her room was exactly as it was last time he checked, not an item out of place. The only thing that seemed odd was a gleam coming from under Alice's vanity that he had never noticed before; the older man got down on his knees and peered at the object. He was sure it couldn't be what it seemed, he had no idea why Alice would have such an item hidden in her bedroom, he reached a hand under and hissed when he felt a cool metal slice his fingertip.

He pulled a dagger out. All he could do was stare; it couldn't have been Alice's, why would it have been Alice's? Charles quickly ran from the room and down the stairs, Mrs Primm was sitting at the dining table and the man knelt beside her.

"My Lady." He said and she smiled gently.

"Yes, Charles?"

He took a deep breath, "Have you any idea why Alice might have hidden a dagger under her vanity?"

Mrs Primm's eyes widened, "No, I wouldn't. Why would you ask me this?"

Charles brought the blade forth, the tip still red with his blood. Mrs Primm stopped breathing.

"I recognise this blade. I saw it but a month ago, it was pointed at my granddaughter."

"A dagger, pointed at Alice? Why?!"

"He was a pirate! He used our carriage to escape the royal guard. Do you- do you think he has my Alice?"

Charles didn't respond, he was thinking about the map, the one Alice had been so eager to show him. The pirate map. It would explain everything, the secrecy, and the noises coming from her room that afternoon and the disappearance of his fiancé right after he returned the artifact.

"Charles?" Mrs Primm asked, he looked up at her.

"I'll assemble a crew immediately; my ship will be ready to sail tomorrow. I know precisely where the pirate is headed." He took the older woman's
hand in his own, "Alice will be safely returned, I promise."


That afternoon Alice found herself acquainted with the ship's cook. He was a rather lanky man named Anthony with a strong Irish accent and a fondness for potatoes. He quickly managed to teach Alice most of the basics, fire hurts, don't fill the pot too much or it spills, use the cheese sparingly. She didn't quite grasp most of his instruction, having had all food cooked for her up until this point but was rather eager to learn.

"Could you pass me a carrot, lass?" Anthony asked and Alice quickly complied, Anthony took the vegetable form her hands and tossed it into the large boiling pot before him, "You been at sea before, eh?"

Alice shook her head, "No, Captain Sparrow more or less abducted me."

"Sparrow's a right tosser, ain't he?"

"Oh no, I wouldn't say that." Alice replied, trying to hide her distaste of the man's vulgar language, "I'd say he and I are rather good friends."

"I don't like him much. Maybe that's just because Cap'n Barbossa didn't like him much, I'd never seen his face before today. Most of the men on this ship are part of Sparrow's old crew, before Barbossa nicked his ship again, didn't sit right with a few of them, but they knew Sparrow had been left at port where he could find a new boat easy, s'not like they left him to die."

Alice was rather intrigued by Anthony's story, knowing rather little about Jack, the man she called her friend and wanting to learn more, "You weren't part of Jack's crew then?"

"Nay." Anthony said, "Barbossa picked me up a year or two ago, I've only heard the stories."

"Was your previous Captain also searching for the fountain of youth?" Alice asked and Anthony nodded.

"Aye, he was. Found out Sparrow had already stolen his map when he set off, by the time they returned to port Sparrow had already taken off and they didn't know where. They'd long given up searching by the time you showed up."

Alice nodded and rested against the wooden wall of the galley, trying her best to ignore the swaying of the waves and to sooth her uneasy stomach. She wondered where she would be sleeping that night, hopefully somewhere comfortable, she wasn't expecting anything like her bed back in London but anything even resembling a mattress would be heaven.

"You alright, Miss?" Anthony asked and Alice dismissed his concern with a wave of her hand.

"I'm just fine, no need to fret."

Anthony raised an eyebrow, "You sure? You're looking a little green."

Alice's hand flew to her cheek, "I am?"

Anthony simply nodded and Alice suddenly realised she hadn't seen herself in a mirror since she was dragged from London; she had absolutely no idea what state she was currently in. She began to worry.

"Do I look okay, Anthony?"

The pirate shrugged, "A little worse for wear I suppose."

"Oh dear." Alice muttered and very conveniently Jack burst into the room.

"Alice! I need your assistance with the map."

"Of course, Jack. Right after somebody draws me a bath."