Disclaimer: Still don't own Norrington or any other characters. I can dream though...

Chapter 3: Flight of the Sparrow

"I asked first. Oo might you be?"

"Pr….Turner. Will Turner."

"Turner is it? Any relation to Bootstrap Bill?"

Hoping that it was a friend of his, Pru answered, "me Uncle. Now who are you, sir?"

"Captain Jack Sparrow, savvy?"

"Sparrow?"

Another voice was suddenlyheard speaking to the barkeep: "I'm looking for a girl masquerading as a boy. Brown hair and eyes,handsome but not pretty. Came in on a chesnut colored horse with a star on its rump, named Libby.The chit answers to the name of Prudence.Seen her? I'll make it worth your while." The clink of coins were heard.

Pru's face went white as she dived under the table. Pru, tired from the nights frustrations, grabbed Sparrow's rum bottle. "and I might be smashin this over ye head, savvy, if ye don't take me on your ship."

"NO! Not me rum! Why does every lass want the rum to be gone?"

Pru froze and whispered, "What did you say?"

"Lass." The man stopped suddenly with a worried frown. "Unless...You're not a eunuch are you?"

"No….I've got to go," Pru said in a rush.

"Hold, lass." Sparrow cautioned, "Wait for the opportune moment and don't do anything, stupid.."

Sparrow stumbled and managed to bring down three sailors. One sailor, drunk already, flew into the drinks and was promptly thrashed by the barkeep. By then the brawl was in full swing. Pru nearly got her head knocked off if she hadn't bent to pull the pants off of a pirate to reveal heart drawers.Mocking laughterdrew attention to the unfortunate man.The Pirate, incensed,proceeded to punch anything that moved. Bones were broken, glass was broken, anything that could be broken was.

The ensuing chaos allowed a quick exit to the docks where a ship with black sails floated in the distance….

Prudence breathed in the salt air, felt the roll of the ship as it sliced through the water. Despite her escape, she knew there was a long road ahead. Her father wouldn't beat her if he found her, she knew that much. However, having tasted a little freedom, Pru wanted to keep it. It was still in her nature to fear too much freedom though. Prudence wanted stability; she wanted a family that would let her find what she wanted to be. For too long, she had been told what she was. She could only hope that her Uncle would allow her the freedom to find what she could be. She had great hopes in that area since he had let her cousin marry a blacksmith. Perhaps her cousin would like a companion to help with chores. Pru didn't need much and didn't think it likely that she'd marry; she could be fairly content with being Aunt Prudence.

"You, boy," a dark skinned woman ordered, "Captain wants to see you!"

"Now, what be your name, as I know it ain't Turner, savvy," Sparrow questioned.

"Prudence Martin and you must be the famous Captain Sparrow who saved my cousin Elizabeth Swann."

"Swann, eh? Destroying rum must run in the family.," mused Sparrow.

"Now Captain! I'm a New England girl whose family got rich off making and smuggling rum. I'd drink your rum before I would destroy it!"

"More reason to hide the rum, luv."

"Learn to share or I won't share mine." Pru took three bottles of the finest rum out of her pack.

Pru smirked."Welcome to New England, captain. Now, where might this ship be traveling?"

"Not to Port Royal. That bloody Norrington'd ha my 'ead and take me rum."

"How might I get to Port Royal then? Walk there?"

"Wait for the opportune moment, luv.," murmured Sparrow