Disclaimer: POTC DOES NOT LIVE IN A PINEAPPLE! I WAS ONLY JOKING!

"One, two, three, four, move your feet faster, six, seven, good." Ana lowers her sword. "Do you need a break?"

Squirrel shakes her head and tightens the grip around the hilt of the sword. "I think I'm g-getting the hang of th-this."

Ana shakes her head and grins. "Don't get your hopes too high, lass." Ana raises her sword again. "Ready?"

Squirrel slides her knife back into her scabbard and stands half-facing Anamaria. "Ready."

Ana charges at Squirrel, sword held high. Squirrel whips the knife out of her belt and parries the blow, her feet braced against the deck. Ana attacks, swinging her sword, close and dangerous. Squirrel keeps her eyes on Ana's face, waiting for her chance. Ana backs Squirrel up, and then…

Squirrel's knife sings through the air, and Ana only just ducks out of the way. "Whoa, easy! This is only practice!"

Squirrel stares. "S-sorry!"

Ana grins. "Maybe you are getting the hang of this. Alright, let's work on your footwork. Pay attention."

Squirrel sits down, panting slightly. Ana fights invisible enemies, and Squirrel watches the woman's feet and the ease with which she swings the heavy sword through the air. It's like a dance. Squirrel notes. A very deadly dance.

"So as long as you keep moving," Ana says, "And don't let yourself get backed up into a corner or unbalanced, you should be right." Ana wipes her face with the back of her hand. "Just don't go trying to kill anyone in cold blood, Squirrel. You'll have nightmares about it for weeks afterwards. Trust me."

Squirrel nods. "It can't be as b-bad as the n-nightmares I have already, can it?"

"Alright." Ana laughs. "Practise is over for now." She grins. "You're getting faster, Squirrel. Stronger too. Someday we'll have to give you a proper sword of your own!"

Squirrel blushes at the compliment.

Jack saunters over. "Very nice work, ladies. Taking a break now?"

Ana nods. "I'm thirsty. I'll be back in a while." She wanders off, pausing only to wink at Squirrel. Squirrel blushes again.

"So," Jack grins, helping Squirrel to her feet, "You've been getting' lessons from Ana on sword-play, have you?" He grins proudly. "Good fer you, luv."

"Jack?" Squirrel takes a deep breath. "Give me a gun."

Jack blinks. "A gun?"

"A gun."

Jack raises an eyebrow. "What for?"

Squirrel looks down. "I'm not sure myself, actually." She bites her lip. "Maybe to make me more of a pirate?"

Jack laughs. "Squirrel, when this is over, you can be the bally Queen of England if you want." His expression sobers. "But if you're so set on having a pistol of your own… Follow me."

Squirrel follows Jack below deck, into the armoury. He picks a pistol off the wall.

"Here we go," he says, holding it to her handle-first. "Your fairly average pirate pistol. There's just one subtle difference." He whips the pistol around and fires at the back wall. Squirrel yelps at the sudden noise and flash of light. When she opens her eyes, she sees Jack grinning down at her. The wooden wall is unmarked.

"The subtle difference being there's no bullets in it. Only blanks." He hands Squirrel the pistol. "Not too heavy for you, is it?"

Squirrel weighs it in her hands. "No." She says, slightly surprised. "N-not at all."

Jack nods. "I thought not." He tilts his head and looks at Squirrel carefully. "I have a question, luv. Why the training and the gun?"

Squirrel slides the gun into her belt with a set face. Jack nods.

"Ah. The duel." He puts a hand on Squirrel's shoulder. "Well, I was going to insist that you stay up high somewhere and throw rocks at people, but since you're so dead-set to fight, then I have an idea."

Squirrel listens eagerly. The jerky movements of Jack's hands and head are slightly hypnotic.

"What do you think?"

Squirrel pauses, thinking, then nods. "Sounds g-good, Captain."

Jack grins. "Knew you'd say that." He leads Squirrel out of the armoury by the arm. "What are the odds of us actually pulling it off?"

"95 per cent, I'd s-say." Squirrel smiles shyly.

Jack laughs. "Great." He pauses, then looks down at her. "Miss Grey, if it's not interrupting with your training, luv, could I ask if you'd like to play a game of War?"

Squirrel grins. "I w-wouldn't ever pass a game up, Captain. You know that."

Jack nods, his eyes distant. "I also had… have something to give you, luv…"

"You told me about it when we w-were in Port Royal." Squirrel says, remembering. "What is it?"

"Eh…" Jack shakes his head. "Nothing. Maybe I'll give it to you later. Savvy?"

Squirrel smiles. "I'll be waiting, Captain."

Jack smiles back. "I know you will, luv. I know."

A/N: 6th of September… my birthday today! More rum and party hats to everyone! And it doesn't matter if you're underage… It's fanfiction rum! Drink up, me hearties!Celebrate good times, come on! Doo doo doo, doo-doo doo-doo… COME ON! Hehehe.