With such good reviews, you think I could pass up putting another chapter? ^_^ Here is another chapter for you all to enjoy.

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Blacksmith

I just walked into the blacksmith's place. My luck sure is changing fast on me. At the least, I can find something to pick these damned shackles off of me wrists! You know how hard it is to run with your hands shackled?

I walked over to the table, full of all kinds of tools. I pick out the hammer looking one. It looks sort of like a pickax to me. Just a smaller version. That's when I hear it. Something hit the ground. I turned on my heels, looking around with caution.

My eyes sweep over the dark room, until I spot the cause for the sudden noise. It was the passed out, older man in the chair. One of his legs, propped up on a stool. His other on the ground. Part of his body, hanging out of the chair. It looked like it just plopped down in the chair without really looking.

I see the fallen bottle next to him. That must have been the cause for the noise. But, just to be safe.. I walk up to him to see if he's awake. You never know if a man is passed out or not without a little poking. I poked him twice in the chest to see if he awakes. He only makes this weird, grumble noise.

Nothing...

I turned around.. well.. just to be really safe. I turned around fast "WHOA!" I watch him. Not even a hint of movement. Good. So now I know he won't wake up in the middle of me pounding these shackles off.

I placed the chains on the iron, moving my right hand over, trying to pound on the chains with the hammer. This wasn't working as I hoped it would. I put down the hammer and tried to pull the chains off. Well, I did get them bent atleast.

That's when my eye caught something. It was some sort of wheel, looking system. I followed it with my eyes, a plan forming in my mind. I spotted the source of the movement, a mule. I always heard they were stubborn animals that wouldn't move unless they had to.

I got up and looked around. There must be something I could prod the mule with to get him going. That's when I spotted it. It was a heated piece of iron in the fire. I pulled it out, then glanced at the Mule. This will certainly do the trick. I lightly poked the Mule in the backside, hearing a very loud sound from the mule, followed by it running away from the heated object. I swung it around, happy with my handy-work. I put it back and threw my chains into the wheel. It spun around, meeting another one on it's way. They smashed my shackles, giving me free movement in my hands again.

That's when the door started to move. Well, so much for my good luck. I quickly ran into the shadows, in all hopes that this stranger would not spot me as I lay in the shadows. Maybe he was just here to check an order?

I followed him with my eyes. It was somewhat hard to see his face clearly in the dark room. He pulled off his coat and hung it. Then, unbuttoned a vest, hanging it up as well. He spotted the man, passed out in the chair. An ironic smile graced his face.

"Right where I left you." He said, then turned. He saw the hammer I let on the iron. "Not where I left you."

'Just my luck..' I thought to myself. I silently pulled out my sword, creepy towards him. He reached out a hand to grab my hat. I tapped his hand with the dull side of my blade. He reached his hand back like my hat was on fire.

He looked at me with surprise, then anger. "You're the one they're hunting. The pirate." He said 'pirate' with utter hate.

I could see him clearly now. He looked about 18. Maybe a wee bit older. His dark eyes, full of hate for me. I wonder why? He did sort of look familiar to me. I couldn't put my finger on it. He didn't seem like someone I would kill, nor someone who would cause me trouble.

My heart thumped a bit. Was there a connection between this boy and me? It was strange. He was so familiar...

"You seem somewhat Familiar, have I threatened you before?" I questioned. Maybe that's it. He did seem to hate me. Maybe we crossed blades before?

"I make it a point of avoiding familiarity with Pirates." He said, still with the same hate.

Well, that solves that. He hates me, yet he claims we never met. That's a new one to me. Awe well. Best be making my way. I don't want that damned Norrington to find me.

"Ah. Then it would be a shame to put a black mark on your record, so it you'll excuse me.." I say, trying to grab my hat. I hear metal moving. He clearly just took out a blade.

I turned to look at him. He was serious about fighting me. Was this boy trying to get killed? "Do you think this wise boy? Crossing blades with a pirate?"

He raised his sword in a challenge position. The look in his eyes ... they were so... familiar.. Ah! This would drive me to madness until I figured out who this boy was. I'm like that you know. One of those people who know something, and it's at the tip of their tongue. If I don't catch it, it'll drive me insane trying to figure it out.

"You threatened Miss. Swane." He said.

Awe, the lass I saved earlier. Did he not realize that, or does he not care? Either way, no use in trying to fight it off. All I really have to do is to clear a path. Even if he is a good swordsman, he will fall for a simple trick. Too much of an ego, with not enough brains to back it up.

I stepped forward, bring my blade to taste his, running it up and down. I smirked and said,"Only a little."

I moved first, as always. He blocked my first couple of moves, stepping back with every move. Then, he swung twice, with pure strength to stop my attacks. I paused, waiting to see what he would do. We matched blades again, this time him moving first. A thrust. I parried. Then, another attack. I stepped back as he did before. This time, I just swiped his blade off course.

"You know what you're doing, I'll give you that. Excellent form." I say to him. This should throw him off guard. Compliments always do that during a fight. He seemed determined though. "But how's your foot work?" I questioned. Time for the great escape. "if I step 'ere.."

I took a cross step. He countered, blocking my three attacks. We held that position. "And I step again.." I made a few more steps, making a half-circle. We had traded spots. He had his back to the backdoor, while I had my back to the front door. I gave another, halfhearted attack at him, which he blocked easily. "Ta."

I put my sword away and quickly got up onto the steps. I was about to open the door when I heard him grunt. The next thing I know, I feel a slight breeze by my ear, and an all too familiar sound of metal against wood. I look as the blade caught my eye. He just threw a blade, from about fifteen feet away, right into the latch to lock me inside. That was one hell of a trick!

I stopped it from wiggling, then tried to pull it out. Of course it wouldn't work. Lady luck hates me. I turned to him with a slight anger in my pose. I don't want to kill the lad, but he was really getting on my nerves right about now.

"That is a wonderful trick." I say to him. Closest thing he'll ever get as a compliment. "Except once again, you are between me and my way out.." I say as I walk across a wagon that was firmly place against the stone floor. I walk down it and pull out my sword. "And now, you have no weapon."

I smirk. What was he really going to do now? Throw his boot as me? He turned quickly, grabbing an uncompleted sword, with the tip still red hot from the fire. I stare at the end. Crap..

I turned from him, trying to get by. If that thing hit me, well.. I wouldn't have to worry about getting out of that door I can tell you now. He blocked me off. I caught his blade with my own, sparing my life from the blade. I turned again, trying to get around him. He countered again. Damned lad! He was REALLY getting on my nerves now.

I wrapped my chains around the sword and pulled it from his grasp. He just reached for another sword, as I threw the heated one away. I jumped onto the turning wheel, trying to attack. He blocked it with a new sword.

Where is he getting all of these swords? I look down where my hands are. There's swords everywhere! "Who makes all these?"

I jumped off the wheel, attacking him. He jumped onto the other side of the wheel. "I do!" He announced to me.

I grabbed a handle from the hanging hooks. I threw it at him. He simply moved to the other side of the spinning wheel. "And I practice with them.."

I grabbed another and threw it at him.

"Three hours a day!" He declared. Probably his pride and joy, knowing he taught himself the art of sword play. Well, a man does need to learn to do thing on his own, but three hours a day?

I grabbed another handle, throwing it at him. He jumped off the wheel. He attacked me this time, making me jump onto the wheel again. "You need to find yourself a girl mate." I informed him. He swung his sword with every intention of cutting off my left hand. I jumped back, grabbing something off the hooks. I didn't really pay attention. Apparently, he grabbed something as well. He was holding two swords now.

He jumped over the wheel's spokes and came after me. I attacked, making him duck. He barely dodged the object I threw at him. Then, blocked his next blow. Wait a sec. He just mentioned something about that Lass. Maybe he was trying to impress her of something by learning it? Worth a shot. curiosity will always be my downfall. "Or.. perhaps the reason you practice three hours a day is that you already found one. And are otherwise incapable of wooing said strumpet."

His brows grow together in a cross between a look of 'huh' and 'what are you getting at?'. So, I hit a spot. "You're not a eunuch are you?" My brows grow together, as I looked him over in somewhat shaken wonder.

That hit a spot all right. His voice became angry with me. And just when I thought we were becoming friends.. That was sarcasm for those that didn't caught it..

"I practice three hours a day, so when I meet a pirate, I can kill it!" He said.

"Ah!" I say in fake surprise. We continue our sword fighting. We somehow got into the rafters, followed by jumping from on side to another. Good thing I was used to be up in high places. The lad looked a little uncomfortable here. Just what I wanted.

Somehow, he knocked my sword from my hand. I quickly swing down from the rafters, since there was no use being up there now. I see him coming down and after me. I looked around and spot a bag full of dust from the smoke. I grab it and shake it. The dust covers the lad completely. I can see the shine of his sword handle. I kick the sword out of his hand, then jump to the side. I'm behind him now.

I pull out my pistol. I wasted enough time doing this. Maybe a bigger threat then my swordplay will finally get him to move. He stands there, ready to continue, when he spots my pistol. A look of confusion passes over his features.

"You cheated." He said, as if he really didn't expect that. He did know I was a pirate, correct?

"A pirate-" I started, but the banging on the door cut me off. I glanced at the door. The officers were there. The backdoor was my only way out now. And this lad was blocking it. He moved from near the fire, to between me and my way out. What a day.. "Move."

"No!" He said in a slightly shaken voice.

I don't have time for this... Ok. I really don't want to shoot this lad. He seems nice enough. Maybe a little asking will help? "Please move."

"No!" he said in a more firm voice. "I cannot just step aside and let you escape."

The officers were about to brake down the door! I had no choice. I let the shot load in my pistol. "This shot, is not meant for you." I say. It was infact meant for a bigger purpose.

*Crash*

I felt a sharp, but numbing pain in my head. The sound of a broken bottle reached my ears. I couldn't help but fall to it.

'Oh, NOW he wakes up...' I think to myself. 'Damned Blacksmith..' Was my last thought as the ground rushed up to meet me.

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I added Will! WHoawho! I love Jack and Will's little confrontation! I hope you guys liked the way I did Jack's POV.

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