This one is set during Not Yet Begun To Fight. And the lines from the show are a tad bit off, but that's okay. Sarah does a lot of thinking. A lot. Anyways...

On with the tale...Sarah and her bad luck with ships...

My ship is rocking in ways it should not. I fear it will sink.

Okay, now I am shipwrecked. It is amazing how quickly things can change. I once stood atop this board, now I am clinging to it so I may survive. I wonder how long I can hang on to this board before I cannot hold on any longer.

A ship! They are coming to rescue me! I hope, anyways. They are rescuing me. I am so happy I could scream.

However, unfortunately, I discover that the ship I am on is the Bonhomme Richard, which is under the control of John Paul Jones, who is somewhat of a pirate for the Americans. Just when I am trying to get away from the war, it comes to me. It is odd how things can change so quickly.

There is to be a naval battle here soon. With my luck, I am to be in the midst of it. Indeed, the battle has begun. In the hold, I happened upon a great number of captured British soldiers. I know one of them. He is begging for me to free them, but I do not know if I shall. It would be most rude of me to betray Mr. Jones trust, being a guest on his ship and all.

But they are my countrymen. I should help them. The Americans seem to be losing the battle, but John Paul Jones will not give up. His forces seem to have weakened the British, but they have weakened the boat. I fear we are sinking.

Water is piling up on the decks. The soldiers will drown! I cannot let them die! I run to free them and they speak of mutiny.

John Paul Jones sees the soldiers and takes me aside.

"Sarah, did you set the soldiers free?"

"Yes. I did."

"Why?"

"I could not let them die."

"Sarah, you're going to have to choose whether you stand for freedom or not."

He wants me to choose? Again?

"What do you choose, Sarah?"

I do not know anymore! I am so confused! But he is giving me this look and I know that he knows what I am supposed to choose.

I am an American now, like it or not. Ever since I had come there, I had said so many things to contradict that.

**FLASHBACK**

He was speechless, for once in his life. I took that opportunity to shove him off my bed. James got up, dusting himself off. He crossed his arms across his chest.

"Sarah, you could, oh, I don't know, marry an American? Ever tried that?" He jeered, annoyed.

I glared venomously at him and rolled my eyes.

"James, that is not funny. Don't you wonder why all the suitors Mother sends are British? It would not be proper for me to marry an American," I replied, also annoyed.

He gave me a look.

"So you're telling me that even if you were in love with an American, you couldn't marry him?" He asked, incredulous.

I wiped at the tears trickling down my face, sniffling softly. Then I snorted.

"I will not love an American," I stated bluntly.

**END FLASHBACK**

The memory of that conversation hit me hard. Then an even more horrible memory came to mind. How cruel I had been.

**FLASHBACK**

"He who sacrifices liberty for temporary safety deserves neither liberty or safety," James countered.

I figured he would use a quote of Dr. Franklin's. I sighed and massaged my temples.

"I am not sacrificing liberty for anything!" I retorted, annoyed.

James smirked.

"Well, Sarah, our country is fighting for liberty. You are running away, because America is too dangerous. You tell me if that's not sacrificing liberty for safety," James sneered.

I glared at my friend, my former friend. My country is Britain. He knows that as well as I do.

"America is not my country. I was merely dwelling inside its boundaries," I stated, tired of arguing.

**END FLASHBACK**

I had been so terrible to him. My best friend. And, even worse, I had been wrong.

America WAS my country. And I realized that on a ship bound for England. I snapped back to reality.

"I choose freedom."

John Paul Jones grinned maniacally and went back to the battle.

"Do you surrender?" Called the other captain.

John Paul Jones shook his head.

"I have not yet begun to fight!" He said assuredly.

Why was I just sitting here? I should be writing this down. There is a piece of wood, and I happen to have a good pencil with me.

THE PIRATE OF THE ATLANTIC Written by: Sarah Phillips

This journalist witnessed a most incredible battle at sea on September 23, 1779. John Paul Jones, a brilliant Scottish sea captain, kept attacking the British, even though his own ship was taking on water. When asked by the captain of the Serapis to surrender, he said boldly: "I have not yet begun to fight!"

Indeed. In the end, it was the captain of the Serapis who surrendered.

I could think of no more to write for now. I wanted to go back to America. How could I tell my mother, or Major Raleigh, that I was to become an American, a patriot?

I could think about that when I landed there. I sigh. I have more thinking to do.

- Loren ;*

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