Disclaimer: I do not own POTC. (sing) One day/my legal documents will come…

Hehehe. This is so much fun to do. Then my mom makes me help her set up a rummage sale (gags). But here's the happy chapter 5.

Chapter 5: Running Down

Jack Turner had never sailed before. He knew many a nautical term, being taught by his mother. For years, he believed that if he should sail, he would know everything. Now, he was learning that he was dead wrong.

He watched with envy as Jack Sparrow immediately took control of the situation, yelling to everyone within his line of sight. It took moments for everyone to get themselves in sailing order. This man was an expert at the helm, but, Jack thought with a stab of jealousy, he does have my whole life on me. From what his parents said, more than twenty years.

"Natie--" He started, but was interrupted by the girl in question pushing him back into the cabin, and she locked them in. "Hey--"

"I'm not allowed to fight. So, neither are you," the girl curtly answered. She stationed herself at the window, watching the approaching vessel.

"Wait, who said anything about fighting?" Jack demanded.

"Well, we're being watched by a Navy ship. We're about to try to leave. I doubt they'll allow it," Natie smiled. "Especially not that Noorington fellow."

He joined her at the window. Sure enough, the once dark Velocity was alight with lanterns. He could even see small, shadowy figures darting around the deck. In the dim light, jack couldn't see the helm , but he knew that Commodore Noorington was up there. And probably Captain Gillette as well. They were the only two that might hold a grudge against the Pearl. And from what his father said, Noorington most of all. More than once, while delivering a sword or chains and shackles to the fort, he had seen the officers practicing with the blades. Some were clumsy, while others were deadly. Noorington was someone he'd rather not fight, even though he was very good with a sword himself.

Natie was anxious beside Jack. Her fingers itched to draw her sword, to finally fight. Being locked up, she felt weak and helpless. At least this time she had a companion. She turned to him.

"Are you any good with that blade?" she asked. "I saw you holding it, back on shore. You made it?"

"Yes, to both questions," Jack replied. "my father taught me how to use swords, and how to create them. This one here, I believe is my best."

"How do you make a sword?" Natie asked, trying to be polite. She was only slightly interested as the boy launched into an elaborate tale of the creation of sword blades. Instead, she was paying more attention to the feel of the Pearl. The constant rocking was a little faster, closer together now. That meant that the ship was starting to pick up speed, and they were about to sail away from Port Royal. Once in the open sea, there was no way that this smaller ship could catch them. Or so she hoped. Natie suddenly realized that Jack had stopped talking, and was looking at her with a slight look of confusion on his face. Luckily, he pointed out the window silently, and she saw the lights of Port Royal disappearing to the Pearl's rudder. But the other ship had already disappeared.

"What--" she started, but was interrupted by hearing Captain Jack calling, out. For a moment, she thought that he was calling her out. Once battles were over he let her know that it was safe. No, he hadn't yelled her name. Could that tiny ship get alongside the Black Pearl? And then actually challenge it?

"They're braver than I thought," she murmured to herself. However, Jack overheard her.

"They're the King's Navy. Of course they're brave," Jack said matter of factly. "Besides, they're in the Velocity. Fastest ship in the Caribbean. Except this ship, of course." he added, seeing the burning look Natie threw at him. Suddenly, both Jack and Natie heard loud yells coming from outside the cabin.

"Looks like the fighting is about to start. I just wish I could be out there, actually helping!" the girl exploded. For a brief moment, Jack was reminded of his mother. She had a similar, strong spirit, ready to fight for whatever she believed in. With a shock he then remembered that this was where his mother had first fought for her life, against the evil pirate Barbossa. He wondered if he would ever have to fight for his life like she did, or his father. Not likely if Natie was around. If she wasn't allowed to fight after being raised as a pirate, there was no way he would be allowed to fight, even if he was older than her. At least, he felt older than her. She was a few inches shorter, and her frame was very slender and lean. In a way, Natie looked almost childish. But her face, her face was much older, more mature. For the first time, he noticed her deep eyes, and imagined the horror she had witnessed. Although she had never seen a fight, she was hurt by her upbringing. Not all scars are visible, just like all treasure is not gold, as his father told him long ago.

Outside, the sound of a struggle became more apparent. It was torture for Jack to sit, imagining his parents fighting out there. Then he realized that Natie had to go through this on a nearly regular basis. But the whole crew was her family, so there were many more she had to worry about. A light rain started.

"Yes!" Natie whispered. She caught Jack's odd look, and explained. "Pirate ships are built to go fast through storms. Where one ship bunkers down, pirates just go faster. And pirates also fight very well in the rain. They don't slip up, even thought the enemy does. We're defiantly going to win now."

"Whatever you say," Jack muttered. He looked back out the window. "Hey, there's a light approaching!"

"What?' Natie asked. He pointed. "Oh no!"

"Huh? What is it?" Jack was nervous now. He knew for a fact that it couldn't be the Dauntless, or any other ship from Port Royal. Unless Noorington had planned on overpowering the Pearl and wasn't on the Velocity at all. "What ship is that?"

"That ship," Natie whispered, her voice tight with fear, "is the reason that your parents and you yourself, are here right now. I didn't think that they would be finished already…"

"Finished at what?" Jack demanded, scared at whatever Natie was about to reveal.

"Jack felt that he owed your father for saving his neck. He came to offer Will a proposition, and a warning, should Will refuse."

"A warning?"

"If that is the ship I believe it to be, it just looted Port Royal. And now they're after us."

Another cliffy! I feel so evil!