(A/N—Well here comes the test as to if canon is in line with that of the true characters of the movie. I hope I have portrayed them to your liking. And thanks to those who reviewed the prologue. Hopefully as the story progresses it will please more readers—not to mention gain more of them as well. So tell your friends!!)

Chapter One

Twenty Years Later…

A high pitched scream filled the darkness of the Tortuga Inn. Dim rooms lit up at the noise, with sailors and pirates running out of their rooms—some wearing clothes and some scrambling to get clothes on—to see what could have caused such a scream.

In a closed door on the second floor the sounds of thumping, stomping, and shattering objects could be heard. Creeping up to the door, the guests as well as their one-night women tried to peek in to see what could be the matter. Abruptly, the door was flung open, sending the Peeping Toms backward to get out of any harm's way.

"Get out, you pig!" screamed the voice of a woman, followed by a jar flung through the doorway, breaking down the hall.

Next to come out was a stumbling figure clutching his belongings…and his hat. His double-pointed beard was mangled, sticky with dried rum, and his vest and trousers stained. Stopping a few feet from the door, the man swiveled.

"T'was only an expeer'ment, luv!" slurred a rather drunk Captain Jack Sparrow. "Meant no offence--"

"OUT!" shouted the prostitute, this time throwing his pistol at him, pegging him on the forehead.

Jack stumbled backward and fell on his rear end. His empty gaze wandered, and he finally noticed the crowd of onlookers, some snickering, and some angry for the disruption of their nightly affairs. He merely shrugged and, picking up his pistol and sliding into his sash, commented, "She 'parently doesn't like to 'ave a good time…"

After several failed attempts to climb to his feet, Jack managed to accomplish the feat. Slipping on his hat, he gazed around, from floor, person, ceiling, person, and another flying object. Were he erect at full height, he would have been smacked in the face with a mirror, but his talents of ambiguously swerving saved him of further pain.

Rushing up to the door the woman slammed it with a "Hmph!" The Captain yelled through the door, "I hope m' shillings for the night pay for th' trinkets you're givin' me out here!" With that, he spun around and did his best to walk downstairs and out the door.

**

Not many were out on the streets this early in the morning, since most were either too drunk to stay awake or occupied with a female guest to their rooms. Jack Sparrow was not drunk enough to have passed out, and womanless…again. So, having nothing to occupy his time—not to mention being kicked out of his own room—he decided for a stroll. Meandering through the alleyways and streets, the pirate had no where in particular to go. With his wallet emptied from several pints of rum and his failed experiment with his lady friend, he could not afford anything else to do, at least for the time being.

With his mind wandering as much as his feet, Jack failed to notice the empty crate lying in his path. He went from gazing at the sky to staring at the dirt. Spitting out some sand and giving the ground some kindly words, he pushed himself up to his knees, only to come into view with a pair of legs right in front of him.

"A bit late for a stroll through the town, isn't it, Jack Sparrow?"

"Captain, mate. Captain Jack--" he stopped himself as he recognized the voice, one he had not heard in a long time. Lifting his head to see the person in front of him, his face nearly hit Will Turner's extended hand.

The sword smith wore red silk and linen, a broad overcoat, breeches revealing his stockings, and the annoying hat he remembered him wearing the last time they were together. Despite this, a broad and well golden smile came across Jack's face as he grabbed his old friend's helping hand, pulling him to his feet, "Well well, if it isn't ol' Bill's pride 'n' joy, Bill!"

"William, Jack. William."

"Ah…right. William. But your strappin' face just screams 'Bill!'", he said spreading out his hand as if he could picture it a reality, "But who 'm I to complain?" Jack paused, trying to clear up his head of the alcohol still flowing into it. "By the way, how did you manage to come 'ere? I thought you would've been tied down to that Miss Crane to go anywhere…"

"That's Swann, if you don't mind!" shouted a rather ruffled Elizabeth Swann from behind Will. Instead of a the normal dress attire the captain was used to seeing, the young woman stormed up in men's trousers and a shirt with the ends tied around the front of her stomach. This was a rather large and surprising change for him.

Jack was rather surprised at the two's unexpected appearance, but the drink in his blood gave him the talent of sliding it off, "Apologies, lass," he said as he took off his hat and bowed low, nearly toppling over again. "Now, what would a smith and a…" he took another glance over Elizabeth's new attire, "…lady such as yourself be doin' out 'ere in No Lubber's Land?"

Will took off his hat—which relieved Jack greatly—and answered, giving a smile to Elizabeth, "Well, it's about…us."

Jack looked pained, "'Ave I pained you that much? Well if you want to call it quits, mate, why bother showin' up? Could've stayed home and let our friendship melt away on its own, savvy?"

"He means us, idiot," snapped Elizabeth, who grabbed Will's arm and held tightly. Red flushed over his face as she held to him.

Again, Jack seemed hurt, "You don't mean that you two're callin' it off? How sad." He took off his hat and held it at his heart, a look of pity on his face at the two.

Silence.

Were Will's arm not intertwined with Elizabeth's, he wouldn't have been able to hold her back in her fury. She tried reaching with her fingers at Jack's smiling face, and it took several moments before Will was capable of calming her down.

"Were you not my friend, Jack Sparrow," Will said, failing to indicate Jack's status of Captain once more (intentionally), "I don't believe I would have restrained her. She and I are to be wed in two weeks."

Jack's smile still remained on his face, "I would've never guessed, mate," he said sarcastically. He slapped his hand on Will's shoulder, which brought out a slight wince. "Congrats to the both of you! Let's drink to celebrate!" he shouted spinning around to go back to the tavern.

"Let's not," commented Elizabeth, "I think you've 'celebrated' enough tonight, by the look...and smell of you."

Jack stopped, back still turned, "Excuse me, lass? Not celebrate? But rum is an essensenntial tool for livin'."

"No, it's an 'essensenntial' tool for getting drunk. Now are you going to accept our proposal for being the best man, or are you going to go get even more drunk? If that's even possible…"

"Ev'rythin's possible, dearie." Jack stopped and stared a bit, "Did you say…best man?"

"Not my idea, mind you. It was Will's."

Jack turned to Will, his hand over his heart, "Mate, I'm touched. But, alas, it seems that you left out one small fact…," he pointed to himself, "Pirate. Wanted. Alive or preferably dead. No way I'll be a best man (as much as I want to, mate), 'for instead of me givin' you a ring, I'll be given a nice, new necktie," he held one had to his neck and lifted one in the air, making it seem like he was hanging himself with an invisible noose.

Will smiled, "It's a private wedding. We'll be having it at a small island off of the southern coast of Hispaniola. No one save her father knows the location of the island, and he gave his word about keeping it secret. However, he has no idea that you're to be part of this wedding, or that you're even attending."

"Well, I s'pose that changes things, eh?" Jack seemed to be thinking it over, "There…will be rum, right?"

"Of course," replied Will.

"Then count me in! Glad I can be of service." He took another bow.