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A pirate's Life for me

Part 9- Hard lesson

It took two days for Jack's fever to go away. Then, an extra day to drag him out of bed. He started his lessons again, but this time... Miss. Sparrow wasn't taking it easy on him anymore.

"Get up." Miss. Sparrow said in a more demanding voice. She held her cutlass.

Jack pushed himself up and grabbed his cutlass again. He reset his hold and signalled he was ready. After only two hits, his cutlass was knocked out of his hold again. He sighed and went to pick it up.

"Hurry." Miss. Sparrow snapped.

Jack nearly jumped when he heard the harsh tone in her voice. She never used that voice with him before. Why now? He picked up his cutlass and turned just in time to block her cutlass from taking off his arm.

"Whoa!" Jack shouted, jumping back, away from her strike. "Miss. Sparrow!"

"Don't Miss. Sparrow me Jack." She said, continuing to attack him. He was barely able to block most of her attacks with his sword. "You are thinking to yourself, that Pirating is all fun and games, aren't you? Well, you're wrong Jack. It's hard work and sometimes very boring."

Another parry. Jack turned on his back foot, barly missing the blade.

"You have to learn that your life is on the line every waking second when you're a pirate. There is always someone after yer head. There is always a ship after yours. There is always a person, hiding in the shadows, waiting for you. You can't take anything too lightly." She said, still attacking. "If I such much as let up a little on you, you are not learning properly. You must build up your speed, and strength."

"Oh" Jack said, getting knicked on the shoulder by her blade.

"I'm going to be tougher on you now. You're older." she explained, attacking again. She knocked his blade out and pointed her cutlass to his throat. "Do you understand?"

"Aye." Jack said, nodding slightly. He never lost eye contact with her.

She smiled. "You're becoming more focused on what you need and want. Those are the important things to a pirate your age. You must think about what you need and want."

"What does that have to do with pirating?" Jack questioned.

"Simple. You NEED food and water for yerself. Now, yer wants are, you WANT to be a pirate. But those come with needs as well. If you are to be a pirate, you need certain things. Like, for one a ship. Two, a crew and three, money to support that crew and ship. Do you get what I am telling you Jack?" She said.

"Aye. I understand." He said, nodding.

"Good. Because, from now on, we are no longer going to be teaching you like you are a baby. You're going to be taught, just the way a pirate should be. With hard work and a hint of some plundering. Savvy?"

"Savvy!"

********

Jack put a towel with ice inside of it on his sore shoulder. He winced as the cool towel touched his heated fleash. He turned his head as Anamaria walked in.

"Tough lesson?" She questioned, walking in.

"Aye. I never thought Miss. Sparrow would be so hard on me." Jack commented. Then, he turned to Anamaria. "but, I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Course you would say that." Anamaria said, sitting next to him on the bed. "You're insane."

Jack chuckled. "Maybe alittle. I'll bow to that, but not all the way."

"Yet." Anamaria added.

"Yet." Jack said with a raise of his eyebrows. He gently took the towel away from his skin. A bruise, the shape of a blade was carved into his tender skin. "This is going to hurt in the morning, I'm thinkin'."

"That is hurting now I'm thinkin'."

"Aye."

"Do you want to go to the docks tomorrow? I heard that the Navy was sending out a ship from 'ere. It's going to take down some pirate ships in the ocean. Damn Navy." Anamaria said.

Jack suddenly got an idea. You could tell because a sly smile made it's way to his lips. "Anamaria. Why don't you grab a cutlass and meet me at the docks tomorrow? We have to look out for our fello pirates."

"What are you getting at?" Anamaria questioned.

"You'll find out."

*****

Jack and Anamaria ducked behind some crates. This was his day off from the lessons. Since the lessons were so hard now, Jack had a day off after ten days.

They watched as the Navy men went by, going by rows. They held their guns infront of them, straight up. Jack always thought this was stupid. They looked like idiots running like that.

Anamaria looked at him with questioning eyes. "Cap'n. what are we doing 'ere?"

"Saving are fello pirate." Jack answered with a smile. "Watch and learn Anamaria."

Jack held his cutlass with one hand. It was still in the shealth. The reason why he held it there, was so it didn't hit his side. He wanted to keep quiet. He ran up to the next crate and ducked down. He turned around. "If someone comes here, distract them for a bit. I have some... work.. I have to do aboard there."

"Aye Cap'n." Anamaria said, not even questioning. She knew he was smart enough not to get caught. She hoped. She watched as he vanished behind more crates, closer to the ship. She kept a sharp eye out for any Navy officers wanting to go onboard the ship again.

Jack quickly got onboard, hiding behind a crate that two men were carring. The crate was so big, he could hide next to it without the men seeing him. As soon as they were aboard, Jack snuck off behind the helm. He went up to the quater deck, and hid up there, waiting for the men to go off board for a while.

The men set down the crate and spoke to each other briefly, before going off board. Jack waited til they were a little out of his vision, before strolling out from his hiding spot. He quickly went down, to the main deck. He found where the rudder control where. Usually by the helm, but ont his ship was by the mast.

"What a weird ship." Jack commented. He pulled out his cutlass and placed it on the ground. He knelt down and pryed up a board from the ship, which took a good three minutes to do, using the small tools he brought with himself. He could clearly see the ropes that control the rudders from here. The ropes were connected to the wheel, which enabled a person to steer the ship.

He grabbed his cutlass and the rope. He cut the rope, as quickly as he could. Then, put his cutlass down. He grabbed the other end of the rope. He tied it to one of the ropes that connected to the sails. The other end he let loose. As soon as the men raised the sail to make way, the rudders would turn, directing the ship right into the rocks.

He smiled at his plan. He would make sure no other pirate would be claimed by the British Navy ships. He already saw the pirates who were caught. They hung, swinging by their necks near a sign that said "Pirates, Ye be Warned."

He put his cutlass back in it's shealth. Then, he heard a loud sobbing. It sounded like Anamaria! He quickly ran to the side of the ship to see what was going on.

*

Anamaria was biting her nails in nervous fustraition. How long was Jack going to take?! This was killing her. If he so much as spotted, he would probably be hanging in the town square. She couldn't have that! He was probably going to become a captain and would be the only captain on the seas that would bring a woman on board. She wasn't stupid. She knew the tales of women bringing bad luck to the ships onboard the sea.

She looked up at the ship, then turned again to watch out for sailors going up to the ship. That's when she saw two Navy officers. They were going to board the ship!

Anamaria started to become more nervous, glancing at the ship, then at the Officers. They were going to the plank that connected the ship to the dock. Jack was going to be caught!

Anamaria quickly stepped out of hiding. She was cring loudly.

The officers turned and looked at her. They quickly came over to the cring girl.

"These docks are off limits lass. You have to go." One said, quietly and gentle to the young girl.

"I..I.. I know.. b-but.. I lost me.. me... me doll! I lost me doll!" She cried, faking it.

The two officers looked at one another in question. Then down at the girl. Anamaria glanced up at the ship, seeing Jack looking down at what was happening. She sent him a look, before going back to the officers. She started cring again.

"Me doll! You 'ave to help me find me doll!" Anamaria sobbed.

The officer to the right patted her shoulder. He was a rather tall man, having to croutch down to touch her. He smiled at her. "I have a lass about your age." he said.

Anamaria felt kind of bad for misleading this man. He seemed so nice. But, it was either misleading this man or seeing Jack hang in the square.

*

Jack shook his head and smiled. This was almost too funny to believe. He quickly turned around noted that he didn't nail down the board. He ran over to it, and as quietly as possible, nailed down the board. He finished right when he heard two sets of foots steps walking up the plank. Apparently Anamaria couldn't hold them off anymore.

He gathered his tools as fast as he could and ran. He hid in the captain's cabin. He looked out through the curtains of the cabin to the two men. They stood, probably going to just guard the main deck from pirates.

He gulped. How was he getting himself out of this one? He turned around, going to find out how to escape, when he noticed exactly where he was. He was in the Captain's Cabin! His first time ever being in one.

The bed for the captain was sheeted with satin of the finest quailty. The curtains were white, but not see through. The walls were lined with maps and books of the ocean. The wall over the bed, was designed with fine wood. Probably oak. Very hard to find in these parts.

It also had a sheild with two swords in it, showing the art of protection. Every great Navy officer had one somewhere in their house, or ship.

Jack tucked away his tools inside of his shirt, seeing as that was the only place he could. He looked around for a way to escape.

*

Anamaria watched as the men went up the plank. She looked down at her hand which held a small gold piece. The kind man ha given it to her when she complained more about her supposive lost doll. He told her to buy a new one, as grand as the piece could buy.

She clintched it in her small hand and looked up at the ship. "Oh Jack."

"You called?" Came his voice. She turned around and there he was! Leaning against a pole, with his arms crossed over his chest and a sly smile on his lips. He was apparently pleased by his work. He would have looked very much like a captain, if he wasn't dripping wet.

"What 'appened to yer clothes?" She pointed to the buldge in his shirt.

"That would be my tools. Come on. We have to get away from here." He grabbed her hand and they both left the docks together.

***The next day***

Jack stood, wearing his best outfit. His bandanna tucked inside of his pocket. His hair tied back and oiled to perfection. This was the day the Navy ship left. All nobles were to be present. Jack watched as the Officers boarded the ship. Someone stepped beside him. It was Miss. Sparrow. She was wearing a dress, for the first time.

His eyes widen as he trailed her. He never saw Miss. Sparrow in such an outfit. She looked,... lovely. Her long locks done in a bun with curls sprouting from it. her make-up done to prefection. Her dress, tight around her midsection, but hooped at her legs. It was a standard dress for all noble ladies, or rich women. But, somehow, it seemed speacail on her.

Jack felt his face heat up as he looked her over once more. He never felt like this before. Never once. Well, that he could remember. He wondered why he was so nervous around Miss. Sparrow all of a sudden and why his palms were sweaty.

"I hate such a sight. Watching Officers line up and form in ranks." Miss. Sparrow said. "Good Luck to the King, for men do not think."

"What does that mean?" Jack questioned, looking up at her.

"It seems jack 'ld boy, that the men who serve the king, do not think for themselves. They allow a man who claims to be of a higher rank, to think for them." Miss. Sparrow said.

"Oh." He continued to watch the officers board the ship, a smile forming on his lips.

"Why do you smile?" Miss. Sparrow questioned.

"You're going to like this show Miss. Sparrow." Jack said, not taking his eyes off the ship. His smile growing a little as they set sail.

Miss. Sparrow raised an eyebrow, but watched the ship. Knowing how Jack thought, it could be an interesting show indeed.

The ship pulled out of the harbor, only to have the men onboard yell out orders to turn the ship. The ship did not turn. Instead it ran straight into the rocks, putting a hole in the Hull and part of the Keel. It was taking on water.

Most men jumped off the ship, swimming back to shore. Some, took the time to gather a boat before going back.

The officers on shore, helped the men to get back on shore. Jack was tring to hold back the laughter that formed in his throat. He didn't want it to ring out his guilt for the crime.

Miss. Sparrow held back a chuckle, and put a hand on Jack's shoulder. "Let's be going now."

Jack nodded and they quickly got away from the docks, only to burst out laughing down the street. They recieved many looks, but ignored them. That was too funny to hold back.

"Did you do that?" Miss. Sparrow questioned, now that they were far enough from the docks.

"Aye. Anamaria distracted the guards long enough for me to disable the rudders and reset them." Jack explained.

"Yer a smart lad Jack." Miss. Sparrow said, with a smile.

Jack felt his cheeks warm up again. He was blushing. Why did he blush at the compliment? He took her compliments before without blushing, so why did he suddenly start now?

He would have to question himself bout that later. Right now, he had to change. His shirt was ichy as all hell. Then, it was time for another lesson.

***********

3 Years, and 6 months Later

***********

"Damn you Joanathanel!" Yelled the kid sitting on the ground. He was a skinny boy, a year or so younger then Jack. His dark hair tied back in the noble fashion. His eyes, alight with anger. His clothes were dirty from the small scuffle with Jack.

Jack stood, standing over bearing to him. His hands on his hips. His shirt, cut in a V, exposed his chest to the world. He had grown another five inches over the three years. His voice had grown a little deeper. Not, to the full extent as of yet though. His muscles were more defined from years of practicing sword fighting and workouts as lessons. His dark brown hair, free to his face. Only to his adam's apple though. His hair was tamed from his eyes by a bandanna. The same red one he had since he was 8.

He looked down at the kid he had scuffled with. "Now. You not be needing to pick on Anamaria anymore, Savvy?"

"What are you? Her suitor?" The boy said with a glare at Jack.

"No. I'd be her Captain. And unless you want to be on my bad side, stay away from her." Jack said as a warning.

"You can't do anything to me. My Father is an Officer of this place. You know as well as I do that if I wanted, I could have you arrested." The boy challenedge.

"Shut up Henry. You can not 'ave your father arrest me for knocking you down. You know that as well as I do. Besides, do you really want your father to know you pick on little girls?" Jack questioned with a raise of his eyebrow.

"Fine. I'll stop picking on her, if you don't tell my father." Henry said, holding up his hand for a shake.

"Deal." Jack said, grabbing the hand. He helped Henry up. "It's not that I don't like you Henry. It's just that well, can't 'ave my crew getting bullied. Savvy?"

"Aye." Henry said with a shrug.

"What is going on here?" A man asked. They turned to see that it was Henry's father. Captain Norrington of the Guard Ship H.M.S. Freelancer.

"Nothing sir." Jack said.

"I think I see a cut on your wrist Lad. Let me see it." Norrington said, holding out his hand. Jack put it in his, only to have his hand grabbed roughly. Then, Norrington grabbed him by the ear. "You're going to be taught a lesson about dealing with a Norrington."

"Oww." Jack said, hating to have his ear grabbed. It was the most humilating thing to have done to a boy his age. Yet, here it was. He was being dragged down the street, to his house, by the ear. Couldn't someone be kind and just shoot him?

Norrington knocked on the door. A maid answered.

"Yes sir?" She questioned.

"May I speak with this boy's father?" Norrington questioned.

"I'm terribly sorry sir. He just stepped out. But, you can talk to his Teacher, Miss. Sparrow. She's almost always in charge of the young Master." She said. She let Norrington and the now blushing Jack, inside of the house.

They went down the hallways and into the study. Miss. Sparrow had her back to them.

"You're late Jack." She said, without turning around.

"Sorry Miss. Sparrow. I ran into some.. trouble.. on the way." Jack said.

"Miss. Sparrow? Will you please face me?" Norrington question, irritation clear in his voice. Miss. Sparrow turned around to look at them. Her eyebrow up in amusement at Jack's little sitution.

"What would be the problem?" She questioned.

"This boy here, had a scuffle with mine. I assure you that you can not allow him to get into fights on the street." Norrington said.

"if I may so bold as to say, why don't you ask poor Jack there, why he started the fight?" Miss. Sparrow said.

"Alright." He said, letting go of Jack's ear. "Why did you start that fight with my son?"

Jack rubbed his ear, and stepped away from him, just incase Norrington got the idea to grab his ear again. "I'm sorry sir. I can't say that. I made an accord not to tell and I'm a man of my word."

"Well, atleast you have pride going for you." Norrington said with a bit of a snort at the end. Jack wanted to have a little scuffle with this guy as well for that he just said.

"if I May be so bold, why aren't you punishing your own son? He, as far as I could tell, was involved in the fight as well." Jack commented.

"Because, he was a victum of your violence." Jack snorted at that, Norrington continued. "Miss. Sparrow. I want to make sure this boy is punished accordingly to his crime."

"And what, would the punishment be that you see fit?" Miss. Sparrow questioned.

"I say, a good lashing would do." Norrington said. "This boy had clearly not been punished for his crimes before. He needs to learn the meaning of punisment."

"You think this boy hasn't been punished?" Miss. Sparrow questioned with a raised eyebrow. She looked at him. "Fine. You punish him."

"Alright." Norrington said with a smile. He looked down at Jack. "Take off your shirt lad."

Jack looked from Norrington, to Miss. Sparrow. He wondered what was in her mind. Why would she let Norrington punish him? He slowly took off his shirt, throwing it aside. He turned, so his back was facing Norrington. He put his hands against the desk infront of him. He closed his eyes, waiting for the lashes to start, when none came.

He looked over his shoulder. Norrington was gasping at his back. "What's wrong?"

"I.. I didn't know. Sorry boy." He said. he turned to Miss. Sparrow, bowing his dismissal. He quickly walked out of the study and out of the house.

Jack blinked. "What was the matter with him?"

"Jack. Did you not know you have the scars from your father's beating on your back?"

"I do?"

"You do."

Jack ran his hand as far as he could over his back. He felt tiny indentions where his skin was taken out, or lumps where a whip or belt touched his skin. "How may do I have?"

"Enough to make sure that people know you were punished enough." She said. "Not nearly as much as I've seen on some people, but enough."

"aw." Jack said, grabbing his shirt and putting his back on. Then, he turned to Miss. Sparrow. "What would you have done if he went through with the punishment?"

Miss. Sparrow looked at him for a second before aswering. "I can't save you all the time Jack. You have to remember that."

"Aye." Jack answered.

"Now. Let's begin your lesson. We will be brushing up on your sword fighting and some muscle building. You can apparent scuffle pretty well if Norrington was that worked up about it."

Jack laughed. "I barely touched Henry."

Miss. Sparrow smiled. "I always knew he was a wimp."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sorry for skipping inhead again! Nothing really happened between that time. Oh, just to make sure you're all caught up..

MUST READ IF YOU'RE CONFUSED ABOUT SOMETHING OR NOT SURE

Norrington in this story is the Movie's Norrington's Father. Henry is the one we know. The ship Miss. Sparrow was working on is finished! All it really needs are sails and stocking up on food.

Ok, Anamaria is 8, almost 9 right now. Jack is 12, nearly 13. Only Miss. Sparrow and Anamaria refer to Jack as Jack. Everyone else calls him Joanathanel.

For all those who are waiting for Jack to gain and ship, you're wait is soon over! There are only two or three chapters before he goes on a ship! WHOAWHO! I know you are all waiting for that!

And as for the relationships... here's an update. Anamaria and Jack are FRIENDS. Not boyfriend/girlfriend. Anamaria doesn't quite like guys yet. Jack is starting to like girls now. He has a crush on Miss. Sparrow. Ok, what person in the world didn't have a crush on one of their teachers? Come on. Admit it. ^_^ I know I did.

Ok, so as for anything else. Henry (Norrington from the movie, only a 10 year old version) kinda likes Anamaria, so he picked on her. Jack got upset because Anamaria was being picked out, so he confronted Henry. Jack basically just pushed him the ground. A little bit of a scuffle. Nothing serious.

For those who are waiting to see Bootstrap Bill, you're going to have to wait a little longer. I already know exactly how I will introduce him and how Jack gets a crew and all that sort. But, there are a few things I need to have happen first. First off, there is the end to Jack's Father who hasn't made much of an apparence in a while. Second, how Jack got the name Sparrow. It's not his last name yet. Also, the Black Pearl is the major issue right now.

Some of you think Miss. Sparrow's ship that she's building is the Black Pearl. Some think he will get the Black Pearl later on. Well, one of you are right. You'll find out how Jack gets the Pearl and why he wants to keep it.

Ok, now another issue that's been going on. The Compass featured in the last chapter I believe. Yes, it IS the compass Jack uses in the movie. You'll see how he gets it later.

Ok, I'm done talking, so you can go back to your regular lives now! ^_^ Til the next chapter! See ya!

PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!