It took me most of the day to walk from the south side of the island to the north. But when I finally did and located the docks, I instantly knew which vessel was the Queen Anne's Revenge, for it was the most ornate, grandiose ship I had ever seen in my life. If there was anything I knew about Barbossa from the stories my mother and Elizabeth would tell me, it was that he loved his treasure.

I swallowed my apprehension and tried my best not to be intimidated by its ornate, gilded decor as I took a step on the gangplank.

Two men, one in a green coat and the other in a red coat stepped in front of my path, blocking my progress.

"HOLD IT!" the one in the red coat cried, eyeing me up in down. "This dock is off limits to…hoodlums."

I narrowed my eyes in confusion. "…alright. Good thing I'm not a hoodlum, then. I wish to speak to your captain."

"Not just anyone speaks with our cap'n, miss," the green coat said.

"Aye," said the other. "Run along, shoo!"

I sidestepped him in annoyance. "I'm not just anyone! I come on very important business!"

"Oh aye, spilled tea on your dress, did ya?" the red coat laughed.

"It's a matter of life and death!" I shouted. "If you don't help me, the seas will turn, and then we're all doomed!"

The red coat held up a defensive hand. "Whoa, whoa, calm yourself, lass. What's your name?"

"And no lies," the other chimed in.

Once again, I was faced with a decision on whether or not to tell these men the truth of my name. But ultimately, I decided that full disclosure was key, as it stood the best chance of getting Barbossa speak with me. "Anna Norrington."

The men looked at one another, eyes wide. "I said no lies!" repeated the green coat.

I sighed in exasperation. Yet another man bewildered by my father's existence. "Yes, as in James Norrington. You knew him?"

"We…we were his men!" the green coat stammered. "Years ago, we…we were on the Dutchman! We saw him die! He was stabbed! We watch his body get thrown to the depths!"

These men were former Navy beneath my father? I felt excitement grow within me. In just the span of two days, I had met three new people who knew my father better than I did. Despite seemingly…mixed reactions about him, the notion was intriguing. But if these two watched him die…that meant that they were partially responsible for his death. So, I decided to have a bit of fun playing mind tricks on these two, who seemed very easily swayed. "Oh now I know who you are…" I began, standing straighter. "You were two of the men who then served beneath Mr. Mercer. You let James Norrington get stabbed and thrown to the depths, didn't you?" I waited until I saw guilt reflect in their expressions before I said, "Well, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but… he survived. I'm his daughter. He's rejoined the Navy. And…he's been looking for you turncoats to seek out his revenge ever since. He's not far from here, you know. If you want me to pretend this never happened, you will allow me counsel with your Captain."

They only stared at me, brows furrowed, until the green coat leaned over to the red and whispered, "…I think she might be telling the truth."

Before I knew it, I was aboard, sidestepping the various other crewmen resupplying the ship. The green coat and red coat argued for a time as to who was going to retrieve Barbossa from his cabin, but finally, the green coat ended up staying with me while the other fetched their Captain.

We stood at the center of the deck facing the cabin doors, just…waiting. I opened my mouth to make simple conversation with the green coat, when all of a sudden the French doors to the cabin burst open. The red coat came scurrying out and down the stairs to join his friend, as a loud thunk, thunk, thunk echoed and reverberated in the floorboards. All commotion on deck ceased entirely as all the men froze in place and cast their eyes downwards. I alone faced the door, my eyes peeled to catch sight of my family's famous foe.

Finally, a man with a worn face, piercing eyes, a grandiose wig, and a peg leg emerged from the inner depths of his cabin. Surely, this was none other than Hector Barbossa.

I fell into a curtsey. "Captain Barbossa," I began, "Your reputation precedes you, sir. Thank you for welcoming me aboard your…powerful vessel."

Barbossa descended the stairs carefully, one step at a time, then approached me, his eyes scanning me up and down as he said, "What be your name, girl?"

"Anna. Anna Norrington." I couldn't help but notice the slightest twinge of disappointment cross his face at my saying this, and I wondered if I had made a horrible mistake.

The green coat, from behind me, whispered to his Captain, "Her father's our former employer!"

Barbossa snapped, "I know who he is!" He took a moment, seemingly to swallow the disappointment, but after awhile, he brightened, saying, "The last time a nobleman's daughter was aboard my ship, t'wasn't by her own accord. A girl who dares cross a pirate ship be offering something. What be you offering, girl?"

"A dire warning," I said earnestly. "The seas are in great danger."

Barbossa snorted. "The only danger on these seas come from me and my fleet, don't it, lads?" To this, all the men cried out in celebration at once, then quickly fell silent in unison once more.

"I don't doubt your prowess, sir," I said, "But I must protest. You and your men are in very grave danger when on the sea. All of us are."

He raised an eyebrow. "I appreciate the pleasantries, but I've got a sea witch on my side. On this very isle, in fact. If I was in danger, certainly I would hear it from her first."

"As do I. Maybe you've heard of her," I proceeded with caution, knowing full well that this could be the end of our discussion right here: "Rose Hexfury?"

Sure enough, Barbossa's nostrils flared in annoyance. "Aye. And? What babble be she spreading?"

"Nay, sir," I replied. "She's the heir to Calypso. She has inherited her powers over the sea." I gulped. "…and I'm her daughter."

Barbossa rolled his eyes and groaned. "To the depths! More blasted Teagues come to plague me. You ruined it, lass. I almost was taking a shinin' to you." He took a moment, laying a blackened fingernail against his chin, considering something. "Yer not as annoying as your relatives, however… Yet isn't this interesting…a Teague with a nobleman's name. Bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing, you are." He narrowed his eyes, instantly turning from someone I felt I could possibly trust to my biggest threat. "So I am to believe that Miss Hexfury has sent you here to plead with me to 'stay off the seas.' Mmm. Sparrow behind this?"

I instantly had to defend myself. "I've never met my uncle," I protested.

"Then why the ruse, lass?"

The green coat leaned over to the red coat, muttering, "…told you she wasn't telling the truth."

"There's no ruse!" I argued. "This is real!"

Barbossa's eyes gleamed in fury. "A Teague just happens to show up on my vessel, showerin' her cap'n with complements and genuflection, politely imploring me to stay beached."

"That's not—"

"Why? Sparrow planning an attack, is he?"

"No!"

"Miss Norrington, I never met your father," he said, "But I've heard he's shrewd. Clearly, he's clever enough to have escaped death itself, it would seem. You seem fairly shrewd yerself." He then pulled out Blackbeard's former cutlass from its sheath, lightly brushing his fingertips against the sharp metal. "So ye best start telling what be yer family's plans."

All of a sudden, the ship seemed to come alive, rope moving towards me from all directions and slithering around me like a snake. I struggled against it, but it was no use. Soon, I was entirely bound.

"What's say you, gents?" Barbossa said. "Shall we toss 'er overboard?" They all cheered in response.

NO! I thought, knowing that my mother would end my journey if that were to happen. "Captain, my father is dead!" I insisted, struggling harder to wriggle from my bondage.

"SEE?! I told you!" the green coat said, slapping his friend in the arm with the back of his hand.

"You fought Jones in the War on Piracy, you know that William Turner took the wheel after Jones! My father was given a servitude by Turner but they were captured by an unknown evil! All they've told us is that whoever's keeping them is a threat to everyone on the sea. It is with Will and Elizabeth Turner's son, Henry that I sailed here! Please! We but seek our fathers! And we need is your help to do it!"

Barbossa raised an eyebrow at this. "Turner, eh? And where be the young Turner boy now?"

"Press ganged by the Navy," I croaked, choking against the tightness of the rope. "But…but he's plotting a way back and when he does, we will plan to make sail to finish the job!"

Barbossa gave a wide, yellow-toothed grin. "Ah…lads, the curse is indeed effective!" he said to his crew, who all laughed menacingly.

Curse? What curse? …all of a sudden, I realized. Barbossa used Tia Dalma to make life easier for himself. With this new witch he spoke of…could he have done the same? "Did you curse my family?" I asked. He only grinned wider at me. "You bastard!" I shouted. "This is all YOUR doing?"

He sliced his cutlass close to my face, causing me to flinch. "Careful now, Miss Norrington. Remember—I was beginning to like your spirit. Best not get carried away, now. My source set a curse upon all my enemies…as your mother, uncle and I were never exactly, friendly, I suppose the curse's bounds include them as well." After a moment of consideration, he said, "So…yes, I suppose this is my doing!"

I sneered, struggling against the rope harder. "MY MOTHER SAVED YOU! You owe our family a debt!"

"I let your family live, therefore I owe your family nothin'!" He took a moment, then grinned evilly again. "So, if that'll be all…" Suddenly, my feet left the ground as the rope began to hoist me upwards and out towards the open ocean.

I struggled harder, then finally shouted out, "My mother gave you a book! Galileo Galilei's journal?" Barbossa stopped the ropes, bringing me back down to the deck. Breathless, I wheezed, "We know you came here first. All I need to know is where the journal is. It leads to the Trident of Poseidon, sir! That will break all sea curses."

Barbossa looked jarred. Clearly, he knew of what I spoke. But, he quickly recovered, saying, "Well…if it breaks all curses, shouldn't be in my best interest to help ya find it, now should it?"

"Have you no heart whatsoever?" I asked. "My father is being tortured! Captain Teague, my grandfather died trying to save him!" I saw Barbossa visibly look taken aback with this piece of information. I continued, "You said you like me…don't do it for the Turners, or the Teagues, help me! …I can serve aboard your ship. I am a capable marksman!"

Barbossa and the crew laughed merrily at that, which made me livid. I wanted nothing more than a gun to prove my worth to them and shut them right up.

"Lass," Barbossa finally said, "There's no place for ye here. I pity yer plight. Teague's demise is…regrettable. But if there's nothing in it for us, there's nothing more we can do for you."

He let the ropes finally release me, and as I breathed a sigh of relief, I looked up to notice that he was walking away from me.

"Just tell me where the diary is!" I called after him, causing him to stop. "You don't have to do a thing!"

He looked as though he was considering my offer, until he said, "But if it breaks our string of good fortune, we will have already done too much. So…what diary?" My heart sank. "Apologies, Miss Norrington," he said. "You're free to go ashore. But, if you or any of your family tries sacking us, you'll be rejoined with your father in eternal damnation, understood?" I gave a slight nod, though I felt utterly defeated. My one and only hope had failed me.

Barbossa then turned his attention back to his crew, shouting out, "Back to work, ya poxy cur!" They all leapt into action once more, working at twice the speed they had originally been functioning at.

Deflated, I turned to go, but Barbossa caught my arm in a tight grip before I could depart. "Search the island," he said quietly. "If it can't be found here, then it's gone."

My hopes soared. He meant the diary! He was giving me a hint as to where it was after all! "We have," I protested. "My mother searched first years ago, then Henry and I have scoured the island for months. We've found nothing."

Barbossa's eyes were sorrowful at this news as he said softly, "…then it's gone."

I shook my head. "Who did you give it to, sir?"

He was silent, his eyes darting between mine as though he was bargaining with himself to tell me. Finally, he shouted, "Murtogg! Mullroy! Escort Miss Norrington back to the docks."

I let out a breath in disappointment as I allowed myself to be led away by the red coat and green coat, now revealed to be called Murtogg and Mullroy. As I began my trek back to the southern shores of St. Martin, I revisited all I had learned from that rather unsuccessful voyage. So…the diary had been here at one point, but was no longer. Henry had been proven to be right after all—Barbossa's help ended there. The diary was lost.

As I entered the town once more, I had resolved to find Gibbs. If Henry had been right about Barbossa, then that must mean that he was right about Gibbs as well. I had no other option but to ask for his help, meet my Uncle Jack, and implore him for his help.

Before I could go about finding Gibbs, however, I turned a corner and was knocked to the ground by someone running with all their might who had collided into me. So jostled and disoriented was I that as I struggled to get up, I didn't notice that this person had tried to keep going until my neck was yanked forward abruptly. The person who had run into me was a woman wearing a light blue dress, and her dark hair had gotten caught in my mother's locket.

She flipped the rest of her hair out of her eyes as she looked up at me. Her crystal blue eyes took me aback, as she said breathlessly, "Little help?"

"Um, of course, sorry," I stammered, trying to free her black, curly hair from the contours of the silver crab.

Suddenly, voices came from behind us, nearing closer.

"No," she muttered. "They're gaining on me!" She panicked, pulling against the locket in the hopes of ripping her caught hair out.

"Wait! Stop!" I protested.

"You don't understand!" she yelled at me. "I have to get out of here!"

Suddenly, I recognized her face. "Wait a moment…you're the witch they're after, aren't you?"

Her eyes went wide, and she began pulling against me more forcefully.

"NO!" I cried. "Wait, stop, I'm on your side!"

She stopped struggling, looking at me again. "…you are?" she asked, uncertainly.

The voices and footsteps of the approaching Navy were drawing nearer.

"Give me your necklace," she ordered. "Unclasp it. I'll make sure I return it to you."

Though I didn't think she was deserving of her persecution, I didn't know her well enough to trust her. "I'm sorry, I can't."

"Please? I promise!"

"I cannot, I'm sorry," I insisted.

We both looked in horror as the Navy rounded the corner, then wordlessly be both took of in a full sprint, together in stride with one another, connected by locket and lock of hair. We darted into a small opening between buildings, holding our breath as we watched the officers dart right past us on the main road.

We waited until we felt the coast was clear. We then both breathed a sigh of relief, as I went back to work on untangling her hair from the crab.

"I believe a thank you is in order," she said. "They nearly had me that time."

I grinned. "I've been here for three months. I still can't believe you haven't been caught!"

She narrowed her eyes. "Thanks," she said with pursed lips.

"No," I protested, shaking my head in frustration at my poor word choice. "Not like that, I just mean that…I was rooting for you to get away." Finally, I managed to free the last bit of her hair from the crab's right claw. "There you go!" I said. "You're free to go!"

She gingerly rubbed her scalp from where the hair had been tugged, then thanked me, shaking my hand. She then climbed over me and walked back out into the street to make her escape, but was instantly surrounded on all sides by Naval officers with their bayonets pointed right at her. I stood in alarm. They must have seen us dart into the alley and were lying in wait for us to make our egress.

"Carina Smyth," Scarfield said, pushing through his men and shackling her wrists together. "You are convicted of witchcraft, will be tried, and likely hanged by the neck until dead."

Her blue eyes glared at my hiding place in the alley, but I was petrified to move, lest I be considered an accomplice and also sentenced for an execution trial. Scarfield followed her gaze, and my heart stopped beating momentarily in fear.

"Ah, yes. Come out, lass!" I tentatively stepped out of the shadows, trembling in fear, unknowing of what was about to come next. Shockingly, Scarfield laid a hand on my shoulder, saying, "Men, we owe a great deal of gratitude to this young woman for her role in capturing the witch, stalling her long enough for us to find and capture her. Well done, my girl!"

Carina gave a tight-lipped, furious half-smile as she said bitingly, "Aye. Well done," before she was led away.

I was left alone in the street, watching the Navy lead Carina Smyth away to her execution. I had inadvertently been to blame for her capture, and I felt horrible.

Once again, that horrible choice reared its head. Give up, and so in turn give up on my father and Will, or keep going and perhaps cause only more danger. Taking a deep breath, I knew there was only one thing to do. I raced to a tailor shop, waiting until the storeroom had been cleared for the day. I then snuck inside, stealing britches, a man's shirt, and a jacket. Next came a cobbler's for some boots. I cared not if I got stared at in the streets: It was time to be a pirate, not a lady.

In my new wear, I marched fearlessly through the streets, pushed open the door of the tavern, and walked right up to Joshamee Gibbs, sitting in a chair in the corner nursing a drink.

"Henry's been press ganged," I reported, pulling up a chair of my own. "Will Turner and James Norrington have been trapped beneath the sea for twelve years. They shall be saved. Barbossa was a dead-end—"

"Coulda told you that—" Gibbs snorted.

"And," I said, jaw tight, "I need a ship, a crew, and a capable captain who will help me. I sail with you."

"You're to find none of that here I'm afraid, lass," he quipped. "Many things Jack is, but 'capable' he is not."

I scoffed in disbelief. "Are we speaking of the same person? Captain Jack Sparrow, the most infamous pirate in the Caribbean. The man who raised the Black Pearl from the depths, the man who found the Fountain of Youth? The man who conquered death itself? If he's not 'capable,' then what is?"

"That man is gone now, missy. Jack hasn't had a spell of good fortune in at least five years. It began with the loss of the Pearl, then the fiasco that was attempting to locate the Treasure of Macedonia and the gold of King Midas." He shook his head. "He's not been the same since."

I shook my head. "Wait, Barbossa mentioned a curse. He placed a curse upon his enemies. I believe he's to blame for my family's bad luck, wouldn't that also spell out yours as well?"

"Would surprise me," Gibbs said indifferently, tossing back his drink. "Doesn't make the situation any more peachy, does it though?"

I sighed. "Well, that matters not. We'll still have a ship and a crew."

"Listen, I pity your plight, I do," Gibbs conceded. "Turner's a good man and Norrington is…well, I've never much been inclined to him, but I imagine he's got a pure heart." I pursed my lips at this, but continued listening. "It's not fair to you, what's happened, but you're at a standstill, just as we are. Whatever help you seek won't be found with Jack."

I sneered. "We'll see about that." Leaning forward, I muttered intently, "So do I make your crew, or not?"