DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything that has to do with Pirates of the Caribbean. Nada. Nil. I do own Adrian, so you do not touch!! And Captian Briggs. And Adrian's grandparents. You can't touch them either.

Adrian stood on the dark cliffs of Tortuga, staring out at the ocean. A slight breeze ruffled her hair, sending dirty blonde tendrils into her face. She brushed them away. It was a cool night, a blessed change from the oppressive heat of the day. Adrian knew that she would not be able to stay much longer. Her grandmother thought she was asleep. Adrian was not often allowed out during the night. Her grandparents told her it was because it wasn't safe for a pretty young woman, but Adrian knew the real reason. They didn't want anyone to see her. Adrian sighed as she slowly walked back up the path to her home.

"Adrian, girl, will ye pass me that tankard of ale there?" Adrian's grandfather, Henry, asked. He was sitting at a round table in his tavern with some other old men, discussing the going on-s of late. Adrian set her rag down and brought him his drink. He smiled his thanks at her and Adrian smiled softly back. The other men watched her walk back to the bar and get a young sailor some more rum. The people of Tortuga had known there was something odd about Adrian when she was first put ashore from her father's ship. In their eyes, she was a very shy girl who barely talked. Adrian also seemed very cold towards others. No one could really guess why, so there were different stories floating around the seaside town. One thing was evident; people stayed away from her. Something about her scared them.

Later that evening, Adrian was helping her grandmother make dinner when her grandfather came home, a grave look on his face.

" Mister Howard saw you down on the cliffs last night," he stated, glaring at Adrian.

" I just went for a walk," she muttered, lowering her eyes.

" Adrian, you know you are not allowed out after the sun sets!" he bellowed, slamming his fist down on the table. Adrian didn't even flinch as she brought her eyes up to stare into his.

" What are you afraid of, Grandpa?" she asked darkly.

" I, er, just don't want you to get hurt," he stammered, unsettled by her stare.

" Oh, why don't you just say it for once? You just don't want people to see your monster of a granddaughter and taint your image. You always go around blaming it on something else, as if not talking about it will make it go away! Well, grandpa, for your information, nothing will make this go away!" Adrian finished. She may have gotten her looks from her mother, but she got her father's explosive anger. Her grandmother stepped in between the two.

" That is enough! Henry, there was no moon out last night, so Mister Howard couldn't have seen anything other than a girl walking along the cliffs," she said, defending her granddaughter. Henry glowered for a minute, then sat down to eat. Adrian merely stood in a corner and watched. I can't stay here anymore, she thought as she watched her grandmother take a bight of chicken. Unable to watch anymore, she quietly walked up to her room. She walked over to her window and opened it. Unlike the night before, the moon was out. Adrian slowly held her hand out into it's light. Her hand was transformed into that of a skeleton's. She jerked it back, shut the window and closed the curtains.

Adrian walked the docks the next morning, looking for a ship to Port Royal. She had decided her destination the night before.

" Excuse me, sir, are any of these ships heading to Port Royal?" she asked a sailor.

" Aye, The Flying Lady is heading out in a couple of hours," he responded as he coiled some rope.

" Is she taking passengers?" Adrian asked.

" Aye, she is," he answered. Adrian nodded her thanks and went to find the ship. It was easy to find, for it had The Flying Lady painted on its side in bold red letters. Without any hesitation, Adrian walked up the gangplank. The deck was teeming with busy sailors. Adrian headed right to the captain's quarters and pounded on the door.

" What?!" came a surly voice from inside.

" I wish to speak to the captain of this ship!" Adrian said in a loud, demanding voice. The door flew open and a tall, wide man stood in front of her. Adrian stared up at him.

" I am assuming that you are the captain?" she asked with one eyebrow arched.

" Yes, I am Captain Briggs. And who might you be?" he asked as he looked the girl up and down.

" I am Adrian Smith. I wish to go to Port Royal. A sailor down on the docks told me that that was the destination of this ship and that you were taking passengers," she stated.

" Yes, MissSmith, I am taking passengers. It will cost you thirty pounds for a berth and meals," he said slowly. He obviously doesn't believe that is my name. Which I suppose he has a right too. But what was I supposed to say? Hello, I am Adrian Barbossa, please take me? I think not, Adrian thought in amusement.

" I just have to go and retrieve my things. Here is the money," she said as she handed him thirty pounds.

" The ship leaves in an hour. Can you be back by then?" the captain asked. Adrian nodded, then headed home. The house was empty. Adrian grabbed her bag of belongings, some money, and left a note to her grandparents. Then she was off.

So it begins Now, go review! Or the curse will be one ye!

Pandagrrl: whenever I write a new story, I always know that you will be the first person to review it! What do ya think of this one?