Bella followed Captain Sparrow along the docks of Port Royal it was just the same as when she had left it nothing had changed, though since being on a ship for so long she felt a little unsteady. The water was clear and a small wind made small ripples in the water, making it a picturesque scene. Captain Sparrow looked over, spotting some steps and walking down them; Bella followed finding two Soldiers standing guard near a ship, the Captain grinned impishly, obviously he wanted this one.
Bella looked up at the ship it was a solid oak color though worn from the sun and traveling, it had yellow and blue lines painted on and had a rather crowded deck, the masts were down and strings were all over the deck.
Bella could tell Captain Sparrow wanted the ship, mostly because of the gleam in his eyes which he had when he wanted something, he walked ahead towards the Soldiers who stopped him the minute they saw him and Bella.
"This dock is off limits to Civilians!" Said the plump looking one holding his gun ready as if at any moment something would come out at him, Bella raised an eyebrow, Murtogg and Mullroy she had given them a fair share of problems when she was younger.
Mostly giving them false warnings so she could spend the night on the ship away from her father, it was mostly on the nights he did nothing but scream at Elizabeth and herself. Bella missed Elizabeth a lot they had long sisterly chats at night helping each other through ones problems but that was gone now, Bella hadn't been around a female for years, she was twenty one now, full grown and just as lippy as she was years ago.
"I'm terribly sorry. I didn't know. If I see one, I shall inform you immediately." The Captain said putting his two index fingers up and waving them around, Bella and him started to walk off when they drew their guns
. "Apparently there's some sort of high toned and fancy to do up at the fort, eh? How could it be that two upstanding gentlemen such as yourselves did not merit an invitation?" The Captain said looking at them, they only shrugged.
"Someone has to make sure this dock stays off limits to civilians." Murtogg said shifting his weight to his other side.
This time Bella spoke up, "It's a fine goal to be sure but it seems to me that a…" she said pointing at the Dauntless, "ship like that makes this one here a bit superfluous really." The Captain finished.
"Oh, the Dauntless is the power in these waters, true enough, but there's no ship as can match the Interceptor for speed." The twig of a Soldier nodded.
"I've heard of one, supposed to be fast….nigh un-catchable….The Black Pearl…" He said, Bella smiled somewhat remembering how he had told her the Black Pearl was his once, she had dreamt of what it looked like and what it maybe like to be on there, the Captain seemed very fond of it as if it was his wife, it was his life and he had such a passion for it, he swears to this day that someday he will sail the seas with the Black Pearl again.
"Well, there's no real ship, that can't match the Interceptor." Murtogg said smirking slightly.
"But the Black Pearl is a real ship." Bella said glaring somewhat at Murtogg for even suggesting it wasn't.
"You look familiar do I know you?" Mullroy said looking at Bella, Bella was panicking inside, "Me and my big mouth…"
She shrugged trying to act nonchalantly, "Sorry, this is my first visit to Port Royal." She replied, the Captain nodded, he knew her story on how her Father had kicked her out, and Captain Sparrow had become like some sort of a Father a whacky one but in his own way was there for her.
Murtogg nodded still not fully believing it, when Mullroy spoke up finally, "The Black Pearl is a real ship." He said as if it had just registered in his mind what Murtogg had said.
"No, no it's not." Murtogg said raising an eyebrow slightly.
Mullroy only kept on, "Yes, it is, I've seen it."
Murtogg grinned sardonically, "You've seen it?" He said mockingly.
Mullroy completely missed this, "Yes, I have." He said turning to look at Murtogg, Bella and Captain Sparrow rolled their eyes watching the fight take place.
"Idiots…" She muttered making the Captain smirk.
"We wait for the opportune moment…" He whispered in her ear, she shrugged, that was Captain Sparrow's Motto, "Wait for the opportune moment." It was something he said nearly all the time.
"You've seen a ship with black sails, that's crewed by the damned and captained by a man so evil that Hell itself spat him back out?" Murtogg said getting in Mullroy's face.
"No…but I have seen a ship with Black Sails." He said as Bella and Captain Sparrow slipped away while the continued to row.
"Oh, and no ship that's not crewed by the damned and captained by a man so evil that Hell itself spat him back out could possibly have black sails therefore couldn't possibly be any other ship than the Black Pearl. Is that what you're saying?" Bella shook her head as Captain Sparrow put his hands on the wheel as if he was testing it out he looked up at the masts and a few other things checking it out.
"Hey! You! Get away from there!" said Mullroy pulling out his gun along with Murtogg, Bella and the Captain only rolled their eyes.
"Sorry it's such a pretty boat…ship." He said waving his hands around, Bella grinned.
"What are you're names?" "Ah, I'm Smith or Smithy if you like and this is Mrs. Smith." He said sauntering down next to Bella putting an arm around her shoulder she held in a gag, and forced a smile.
"What's you're purpose in Port Royal Mr. and Mrs. Smith?" Murtogg said mockingly.
"And no lies…" Mullroy added.
"Well, then, I confess, it is our intention to commandeer one of these ships, pick up a crew in Tortuga, raid, pillage, plunder and otherwise pilfer our weasely black guts out!" Jack said hanging slightly off a pole smirking at them, Bella smiled brightly.
"Yes it's obvious isn't it?" She added with a smug smile, her head tilted to the side.
"I said no lies!" Mullroy said glaring.
"I think he's telling the truth…" Murtogg said Bella and the Captain once again rolled their eyes at their stupidity.
"He wouldn't have told it to us!"
"Unless of course he knew you wouldn't believe the truth even if he told it to you."
The next thing Bella knew was that they were on a boat headed to the cells most likely, she wasn't in fear that she would have to spend the night in a cold dark cell but that she might be recognized.
"Two paces March! Right about face! Present arms!" Yelled a soldier, Captain James Norrington unsheathed his sword and smiled somewhat, he did a few flips that didn't really impress Elizabeth that much not as much as William impressed her, she waved her fan gasping for air, they had tied the corset too tight and it was cutting off her air supply. Norrington walked along doing a few more flips, tricks and other things that made Elizabeth want to die of boredom before it was over, it was time for the party. Elizabeth didn't enjoy this too much either.
She walked along wishing Bella was there with her, she would have found someway to loosen the strings a bit, she would have made this boring party something fun, but she wasn't here and now Elizabeth found herself looking out into the ocean with Norrington.
"May I have a moment?" He asked looking at her, he looked nervous, he swallowed hard as Elizabeth nodded she knew what was coming.
"Uh…you look lovely Elizabeth." He said somewhat nervously, but it was no where close to what Elizabeth was feeling, she felt she could see her life right before her eyes, what it was going to be forever, the rich parties every now and then, living a lie that she loves her husband when in reality she doesn't. But yet in the back of her mind she knows that he's a fine man and any woman should be lucky to have him…but for some reason she doesn't feel so lucky, she looks over and smiles laughing half heartedly as he continues.
"I, uh, apologize if I seem forward, but I… must speak my mind. This promotion throws into sharp relief that which I have not yet achieved. Uh… a marriage to a fine woman."
Elizabeth fanned herself faster whether because of the heat, the corset or what she knew Norrington was about say.
"You have become a fine woman Elizabeth." He said looking at her, she was looking down at the ocean, fanning herself gasping for air, "I can't breathe." She said fainting and falling over the battlement into the ocean.
"Yes I know I'm nervous myself." He said oblivious to what just happened.
Bella sighed annoyed hearing Captain Sparrow tell another one of his stories which he had told several times in which each time it changed somewhat, she had her elbow on her knee and her chin in her palm looking around as the Captain babbled on. She looked over near the battlement and saw someone fall off into the water.
"Elizabeth!" She heard Norrington scream, Bella stood up abruptly panicking just realizing it was her sister that plunged into the water.
"Will you be saving her then?" The Captain asked.
"Can't swim." Murtogg said, Mullroy only shrugged, Bella glared as the Captain handed them his things, "Pride of the kings navy you are." He said jumping in, Bella jumped in after him at this point she didn't care if she was noticed this was her younger sister and she wasn't about to let her drown, the Captain dived in and tried to pull her up but the dress was weighing him down, so he ripped it off and pulled her back up to the surface by this time Bella had caught up to him and they both swam to the dock, Bella brushing hair out of Elizabeth's face. The Captain pulled Elizabeth onto the dock, Bella right behind him, "Not breathing!" Said Murtogg, the Captain made him move cutting open the corset, Elizabeth opened her eyes straight away coughing up water.
"Where did you get this…?" The Captain said finding a piece of gold Bella pushed him away leaning over Elizabeth, "Are you alright?" Bella breathed, Elizabeth couldn't quite make out who it was the water was blurring her vision but it cleared away after a moment.
Elizabeth gasped recognizing who was leaning over her. "On you're feet!" Norrington said pointing the sword at the Captain and Bella, Bella looked up as their father Weatherby ran to Elizabeth pulling her up, "Bella…" Elizabeth whispered Bella smiled sadly looking at Elizabeth then back to Norrington.
"Elizabeth are you alright…?" Their father asked wrapping his coat around her.
"Yes, I'm fine….Bella…" She said, at this moment, Bella wished, Elizabeth would quiet up. Their Father looks over and sees Mullroy holding Elizabeth's corset, he shrugs and points to the Captain, "Shoot him…and who on earth are you?"
Weatherby asked. "Father, don't you recognize her…it's Bella!" Elizabeth said somewhat excitedly, Weatherby looked up at Bella, who looked up at him slowly her hands behind her back, she swallowed hard as his stared at her, and everyone was looking at her she felt like someone that was on display.
"Shoot him." He said going back to the Captain glaring. "Father…do you really intend to kill my rescuer?" Elizabeth asked looking at Weatherby shivering from the water.
"I believe thanks are in order…" Norrington said holding his hand out to shake the Captain's, Bella tried to make several signals that this wasn't a good idea but he shook the Commodore's hand anyway. "Had a brush with the East India trading company did we? Pirate." He said smugly, Bella glowered at him he had seen the 'P', "And what are you doing with him?" James asked turning to Bella.
Bella rolled her eyes and laughed sardonically, "I wouldn't be with him but my father kicked me out of the house where else was I suppose to go?" She asked looking at him.
Weatherby looked nervous, "Hang him…and her!" He said chest heaving, Norrington looked at Weatherby as if he was mad, and Norrington swallowed hard, "Gillette fetch the irons…" He said slowly looking up at Bella who had the look of fear on her face.
"Well, well, well! Jack sparrow." Norrington said pulling the sleeve up farther to see a Sparrow flying in the horizon.
"Captain Jack Sparrow if you please sir." Jack said smiling somewhat.
"Well," James said somewhat smugly, "I don't see you're ship Captain."
Jack smiled impishly, "I'm in the market….as it were." He said swaying as if he was drunk.
"These are his things sir. Said he come to commandeer a ship." Said Mullroy handing over Jack's effects Bella still had her sword at her hip.
"Told you he was telling the truth!" Said Murtogg glaring. "No additional shots nor powder. A compass that doesn't point north…" Norrington said looking through his things, he took out the sword and smiled, "And I half expected it to be made of wood. You are without doubt the worst pirate I have ever heard of." He said.
"Ah, but you have heard of me." Jack said as if this was the best thing in the world this seemed to snap something with Norrington because he grabbed, Bella and Jack cuffing them.
"Commodore I really must protest!" Elizabeth said wriggling out of her Father's grip and walking up to James. "Pirate or not this man saved my life…my…my sister saved my life…" Elizabeth said near tears, Bella looked at Elizabeth swallowing hard, keeping tears back, no matter how angry she had been that Elizabeth had told her secret, all she wanted to do right now was hug Elizabeth.
"One good deed is not enough to redeem a man of a lifetime of wickedness." Norrington said looking at her annoyed.
"Though it seems enough to condemn them." Bella said hoarsely.
"Indeed." James said looking at her his face void of any emotion, but yet he seemed softer towards her then the Captain. "Elizabeth…thank you for trying…" Bella said letting a tear slip down her cheek, Elizabeth stepped in front of Bella and the Captain, "Finally!" The Captain said throwing his chains around Elizabeth's neck.
"Jack don't hurt her!" Bella screamed, Jack ignored her wrapping his one arm around Bella's waist, "My effects please…" Jack said looking at James…"Commodore." He warned, James grabbed his effects and gave them to Elizabeth who slowly put them on, "You're despicable!" She spat, Bella was still weeping, "Remember this as the day that you almost caught Captain Jack...Sparrow!"
He said pushing Elizabeth away and hoisting Bella with him, swinging off soldiers shooting at them, "JACK!" She squealed as they landed on ground. They ran off as shots were fired, Jack grabbed her hand running behind a statue, he had his hand over Bella's mouth to keep her quiet as soldiers ran past, Jack pulled out his sword, "Come." He said Bella looked at the sign to see what shop they were going into, her breath caught…The Blacksmiths…
"Gillette, Mr. Sparrow has a dawn appointment with the gallows. I would hate for him to miss it." Norrington said somewhat confused about Elizabeth's sister, the men ran after Jack and the woman passing the Blacksmiths shop, as Bella went in she noticed she was holding her breath and all she could think was, "What if he is here?"