Wow, so many reviews! Yay! And on my birthday, too. That's a nice sort of present, that is.

Well, here's more for you. My Swordplay notebook has gone missing- I think I left it at school over the Christmas break! Oh no! This will be bad- I shall just have to improvise.

Review Replies:

Elentari II-

Aletté came on board when the crew stopped in Singapore, day nineteen. She was only mentioned, though, but I thought I'd make her a bigger part of the story now. I'm almost done Morgan's diary- almost at the part where it joins up with Swordplay, so then I'll just do that one for a while. And I don't really care whether you spell it Aletté or Alette. Its all the same to me, really.

FencingBabe7-

Will is cool isn't he? Yes, I understand my stories get a bit confusing, so bear with me. I'll try to put in more details in future.

Elven Vampire

Hahaha, yeah, it's a soap opera I guess. Well, POTC is just so easy to turn into a soap opera, I couldn't resist, mate.

Erin Richards-

Thanks for reviewing so much. And please write more of India and Jack. I'll try to update this more often, as I know I get lazy sometimes.

Lady Arien-

You like my characters? Yay, I'm flattered, though I cant say I've got much of a storyline going here. I think its more just improv, but take it as you will. If you like it, maybe its just me being overly critical. You're such a great reviewer. Hey, did you see that, I wrote you're and not your? Yep, sorry, I wrote a lot of this a while ago when I was stupid. Which, I still am, but less so.

All reviewers-

Thanks a bazillion for answering with constructive criticism. I like that better than just plain good reviews. And if you don't like something, please tell me because chances are I'll change it. Like the Will/Aletté thing- most of you didn't like that too much, so I altered it. Remember, this is your story, and its for your enjoyment, so don't be afraid to ask for changes!

Thanks again,

-SQ

***

Day Forty-Four,

Hah! I got it out of her! I've never had much nerve, so going up and talking directly to Aletté about something I knew was very probably a touchy subject was a new thing for me. Very new. But I did it, and now I know something that puts that poor girl's whole life into perspective.

Before I forget it, I'll write down the important part- after I'd badgered her for what seemed like hours. Here, this is what our conversation consisted of;

I bounced into the room and giggled. "You still haven't answered my question, Aletté!"

"Oh go away." She snapped.

I sobered. "Oh, c'mon, you know I've been through trails myself. You can tell me."

"You'll take it to the grave?" She asked shakily.

I nodded. "Till my dying day."

She sighed. "I've been wanting to tell someone- I think I can trust you." She dug her nails into her leather jacket "Here goes. My grandfather was the count of Sierrbo, Spain. My mother got pregnant when she was seventeen. Grandfather feared that this would bring shame to our family, so he suggested-well, no- he commanded that she marry a nobleman and pretend that I was his child. But mama was in love with a rogue sailor from Singapore, a man who had promised to look after her, too care for her. They ran away together on his ship, but when he arrived in port, he left mama. Alone.

"She was young. How is a young, sheltered aristocrat expected to survive the streets of Singapore? She had to sell herself, and then when I was fourteen, she took ill and died." Aletté paused and sniffed heartily. "Then I was alone. So, I had to work the streets just like she had. I sold myself to anyone- do you know how awful that is? Then, finally, I got a job as a barmaid in that place- The Tuna Shack. The man who owned it was like a father to me. When he passed away, he left it to me. And then, when Jack walked into my bar that day, I saw my way out of that hellish port. And I took it. That's all there is to it."

Can you believe that? I was so shocked.

"Oh Aletté…" I stammered. "You're so brave. I could never- I'm so sorry."

She smiled. "You get used to it."

Oh, my dear Aletté, how I have underestimated you! At first meeting, I thought of her only as a thick-headed, silly gossip with nothing behind her sparkling turquoise eyes. And now I have so much respect for her- she's gone through what I never could.

Oh lord, did I just feel the ship rattle? What in God's name is going on? What is that- a musket just fired! We must be coming up on another ship- that is the signal to stop. But did it come from our ship, or someone else's? I must get up on deck- something tells me there will be little rest for the weary tonight.

***

Well, I hope you liked it. And you know the drill, please review. Its my birthday today and I got a Return of the King calendar. I love that movie. Did anyone else see it on the 17th? That was so cool- I dressed up as Eowyn, in her white dress, you know, the one at the beginning of the Two Towers? Well, anyways, please review seeing as how its my birthday! Yay! I'm finally the one age with my buds! My friends all tease me because I'm born so late in the year that I'm younger than the rest of them.

Well, I hope you liked it. Any ideas on Meryl/Morgan/Jack situation? I've only had, like, one solid reply to that. I love hearing ideas on where you think the story should go.

Thanks a bunch.

Yours forever,

-SQ