RETURN TO THE BLACK PEARL
Yay! Chapter Two has arrived!
PUSS IN BOOTS: Uh, excuse me—
ME: [gasps] My hero!
PUSS IN BOOTS: Me, a hero? Ooh, I am honored.
ME: [breathlessly] Will you marry me?
PUSS IN BOOTS: Uh, no, I'm engaged to a broomstick or an elephant or something.
ME: Drat. I don't even own Puss In Boots, so how can I possibly own Pirates of the Caribbean? Or even a new pair of socks?
Chapter Two: From Out of Nowhere
Commodore James Norrington cradled his head in his arms in a rare posture of defeat. Mere moments ago, one of his lieutenants had burst into his office with the news that a merchant vessel carrying large store of military supplies had intercepted, then plundered, by Captain Jack Sparrow. This was not news Norrington liked to hear, because it was the fourth time this year that he had heard it. And he had been counting on receiving those supplies. In Norrington's opinion, Sparrow took far too much glee in running his command straight into the ground.
Ever since his grand tumble off the battlements of the fort, Sparrow had been engaging Norrington in similar games of cat-and-mouse. Sparrow won most of them, leaving neither Norrington nor his men much incentive to continue such games.
Sooner or later, Norrington would have to go down to the docks for an official report from the Dauntless's captain. He was not looking forward to it.
"Why me?" Norrington asked rhetorically. "What kind of person am I dealing with?"
"Pirate," answered an amused voice, undeniably female, from behind him, and Norrington's heart skipped a beat. Mastering the sudden emotion that flitted across his face, he tuned to face the speaker.
Elizabeth Swann, daughter of the Governor and Norrington's former fiancé. The events that had occurred two years ago had knocked Norrington out of her heart, if, indeed, he had ever truly been in it, and replaced him with a young blacksmith not yet even out of his apprenticeship.
Norrington had tried to be a good sport about it. He was too fond of Elizabeth to force her to marry him if she didn't want to. The sincere, charming smile she wore now on her face reminded him again why. "Miss Swann, what a pleasure," he said, with a smile that changed from sadness to polite in a heartbeat. "What brings you here?"
Elizabeth's smile slipped a bit. "Actually, I'm here with Will," she explained, and looked over her shoulder as the Will in question, whose last name was Turner, walked into the room, Norrington's dress sword in his hand. The sword made a satisfying rasping sound as it was drawn from an elaborately decorated scabbard.
"Sharper than before," the blacksmith commented, handing the sword to Norrington for inspection.
"So I see," replied Norrington, examining it. He made a few passes with it and, satisfied, replaced it in the scabbard. "Many thanks, Mr. Turner."
"Having pirate troubles, Commodore?" asked Elizabeth.
"Indeed," Norrington acknowledged. "It appears as though your friend—and I use that term in the loosest sense possible—Mr. Sparrow has given up attacking my military vessels outright in exchange for attacking merchant vessels carrying my military supplies."
Will coughed, as though to stifle a laugh. Norrington couldn't blame him, really. Sparrow was only one man with one ship, and Norrington had innumerable men and ships at his disposal. So why couldn't he catch the man?
"I'm sorry for your loss, Commodore," said Elizabeth, shooting Will a quelling glare.
Norrington sighed. "As am I." He stood. "In fact, I must be going to see the Dauntless in and find out first-hand what kind of tricks Sparrow pulled on my lieutenant."
Will and Elizabeth really did grin at that. "May we come, too?" Elizabeth asked. "I'd love to know what kind of tricks Captain Jack pulled on an officer of the Royal Navy."
Norrington reflected that the presence of Miss Swann would more than make up for the rather unwelcome society of Mr. Turner. "Yes, of course," he said.
PUSS IN BOOTS: You see, I'm looking for a Cast of Thousands; they may have come this way—
ME: I haven't seen anything. Just your big, enormous, oh-so-adorable green eyes.
PUSS IN BOOTS: That is very flattering, but would you please let go of me?
ME: Maybe, if I get some reviews.
