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Chapter 16 : She started it!

The day rose in all its splendour, spitting out fickle colours along all paths. Through the daybreak sailed the Black Pearl herself, as proud as any boat had ever sailed. At her helm, Captain Sparrow: scurrying over her deck, the numerous crew; crying murder from the crows nest, a young lady under the name of Fen. Crying murder - wait there's a problem with the story there....

Let me down, you two faced hag, you stiking, blackhearted, crosseyed- Jack rolled his eyes, Your insults are like nectar of the gods, Fen... Incredibly vulgar... Even I can do better than that! He screwed his face up, Shut up you bloody strumpet! His eyes sparkled, but she saw nothing of that. I'm not a bloody strumpet you peg-legged mute- she got a couple of glares from other members of the crew at that, and you'd do well to remember it! Jack shook his head, as did Gibbs, though Gibbs also followed it up with, there's been nothing but trouble since that boy came on board. Which was not quite true, in fact.

A month or so had passed since Fen had found out Jack knew of the map and things were going well. Well. Yes, that's all there was to say, really. They'd searched in vain for the island shown on the map - but somehow had not found it - had no more news of Will - something about which Elisabeth, still on board and helping out vigourously, was rather upset about - and the Cussers had not given sign of life - something noone aboard was distraught over.

Gibbs had all but forgotten the beating Fen had given his dear daughter - he spoilt her as rotten as month-old tomatoes - but he seemed to have forgiven it as much as he ever would. Veronica, the fateful daughter had turned out to be - surprise, surprise - an utter pest. And one that crooned over a repulsed Jack. She'd taught Fen a valuable, ahem, lesson - one didn't make enemies with pirates or pirates-in-the-making for the simple reason that they'd hang you in your sleep, or try as hard as hell to.

And Fen and Jack... Well, they were... getting on alright. Yelled at each other from time to time, laughed with each other from time to time and ignored each other from time to time. There wasn't actually much time left after they'd done all that, but they still squeezed in tasks and chores upon tasks and chores. Or Fen did. Jack was more prone to retiring to the company of a bottle of rum. Only one incident had ruined their peaceful shunning of each other and that had been a duel. Duel was a nice way to put it. You could also say, a brawl. But that doesn't have such an elegant twang to it.

It had happened, a week or so before. Fen had been trying, with every force and bone in her body to whistle. She should have been able to, shouldn't she have? All sea people could whistle, or that's what she had always thought, so why, even though she had been out to sea for months, couldn't she muster a single sweet note?

she cursed as another breath went to waste. Maybe if she just twisted her lips a slight little bit... Yer rubbish, even oi coul' bea' tha', said the gangly daughter of Gibbs, as Fen called her, sitting just to her left with her legs draped overboard. As if to prove her words, she came out with a precious volley of crescendos that twindled off into a lively dance tune.

Fen grimaced. That was just typical. It'd been three weeks since she'd effectively whacked the girl in the face and so far se had earned for her pains five other face fulls of sea water. One faceful of dinner. Stodge in other words, but that hadn't been repeated - seeing as Fen had taken her revenge. In a peaceful and kind way, of course. And aches and pains all over from various tripping over ropes. But Gibbs was wary, so she bore most of it silently. Fancy being not able to teach someone a lesson from fear of being completely paralysed! Bloody pirates, creeps the whole lot of them.

Well done, you. Fen spat out sarcastically.

My daddy said I shouldn't speak to you. But you know what, her voice was horrible and shrieky, I think I'm going to anyway, because you're not a good pirate. Even Jack says so. Fen found herself staring at the sickly sweet smile with an annoyed expression. Oh, did he indeed. Well, peronnally, I- she broke off. She had been about to ask why on earth a superstitious man like Gibbs would let any woman on board, daughter or not, but it would only get her another mouthful of sweet insults. How could the child of a pirate be so damn spoilt?

the child crooned, turning Fen's expression even sourer and making her remark venemously, Jack's not so much of a good one himself, actually, Veronica, he's a little on the mad side and probably forgets how to even fight every two minutes, he's in such a permanently drunk state. She grinned satisfactly at the horror on the girls face. To say anything about her Jack was blasphemy, no it was worse. You- you- Veronica spluttered hoarsely. She brought her head up quickly to stare behind Fen's right shoulder.

Fen felt a soft tap on her shoulder, which made her turn around cautiously, What was that you were saying, Fen, I only caught the bit about me being a black-hearted drunkard. Fen pursed her lips, I suppose you're going to try to tell me you aren't? she looked at him.

Of course he isn- Veronica cried from behind them, only to be cut off with an icy look from Jack. Leave this to me, Veronica. He turned all of his attention to Fen, I have had quite enough of your manners, missy- err, lad. The captain must be respected.... If you go looking for a fight, then you're damn going to find one. The loser-

The loser has to do anything the winner says. She grinned broadly, pleased at the change in events, Jack agreed. Men, give us some space, he cried in a booming voice. Everyone scampered out of his way and whispers of, the captain's fighting the boy came from all around.

They both yanked out their swords and clashed them together. Once, twice, thrice and they were whirling, smashing, grimacing and smashing again. Jack turned a flip - beautifully executed, only to land confronted with Fen's sword at the nape of his nape. But that did not last long - soon it was Fen who saw her life whizzing before her eyes as Jack slammed the point of his own weapon against her chest. She brought her foot up, however, catching him in the groin - well, he shouldn't have been leaning so close to her, like that, he should stand back - and they were equal once again. Punches, fists, and kicks of all sorts - even the occasional bite - puctuated the parries, but nothing wiped the grin off either of there faces - except the afore mentioned grimaces, which were, in their own way, grins themselves.

The crew had started betting - the majority on Jack - and were consequently yelling from every side. And then, the fatal move... Jack swerved a thrust from Fen, took a leap forwards, brought his sword back, and... hit... mid-air....

He lost his balance, stumbled and fell flat on his stomach. He waited, sure to feel a sharp and sudden pain in his back - or at least her a savage cackle. But nothing came...

He turned his head to his left. No one. To the right, and burst out laughing. Wildly. He couldn't help it. They'd obviously gone down at the same time, or her just before him - yes, he could see her leg caught in a rope - and there was Fen, pushing herself up in a disgruntled fashion.

He stood up and offered her his hand. She scowled, took it and stormed off, to the merriment of the crew and Captain.

But they'd kept from use of weapons from then on - no use in tempting fate as they had decided each in their own corner. So it was in a fairly pleasant state that they recieved the news they'd been waiting for. Ship ahead! yelled Fen. Jack grabbed his spyglass... Ship, indeed... And a pirate one at that.

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Finally updated!! I wasn't very inspired, but I hope it was at least readable. Sorry for the long wait, I'll try to get the next chapter up soon, and hopefully tie up all the lose ends and finish it off quite soon. Thank you for all the reviews!! They make me really happy... Like eating sherbet lemons.... Mmmmm... yummy...