Disclaimer: I would be a happy woman if I owned any POTC characters….alas, I do not.

Chapter 4: The Makings of a Man

The trip from Rhode Island to Georgia came by in fast blur of unadulterated freedom for Pru. The wind and sun thathad worked wonders for her complexion. Freckles dusted her nose and her skin had turned abit browner.Normally, Pru would have been covered from head to toe, resulting in her skin being an ugly white that screamed bed sheet rather that lady.

She and Captain Sparrow had immediately struck a rapport through their common love of rum. It began to be their custom to share a nip or two each evening. It was then that Sparrow, in his own roundabout way, regaled herwith 'stories' of his adventures. Mostly fictional accounts, if Pru had any money with which to bet.

So, it was with said friendship firmly attached, that Sparrow approached her with offers to make her into a man. "and here I thought that you'd be offering to make me into a woman, instead," Pru teased. "Aye, I can do that too lass, if'n you like what you see, savvy?" "Thanks for the offer, Sparrow, but lets get on with the lessons, savvy," Pru responded as she looked toward the captain with laughing eyes.

First lesson was to be the art of manly swaggering. To Pru, who had always seen the upper class gentlemen walk, Sparrow's gait seemed quite absurd. She felt it to be even more stupid as she attempted a manly walk. In doing so, Pru earned bruises in seven places, but eventually Pru gained a walk that was somewhere between Jack's and a horse's.

The next lesson proved to be manly cleanliness. Sparrow proceeded to drop a piece of bread on the floor. "Eat it.," Sparrow ordered. Prudence wrinkled her nose and flatly refused. It was then that the ten second rule was explained and the occasions where that time limit could be expanded. Pru grimaced, ate it, and didn't finish the lesson until she could stop grimacing.

Lesson the third involved manly swearing. Pru always loved learning new vocabulary and was quite adept at committing words to memory. She felt no guilt about the unladylike nature of her new words. Rather, she termed the swear words "verbal intensifiers."

Her final lesson proved to be sword fighting. The past few weeks had been filled with swashbuckling practice. She learned stance, speed, and strength. She learned to fight fairly. Of course, as her teacher was Captain Jack Sparrow, she also learned how to fight unfairly. Further practice would prove beneficial, but Pru could defend herself well in the future. Craftily, Sparrow suggested she practice further with Will Turner once she arrived in Port Royal. "Damn, you knew from the first," Pru shouted, her face turning red.

Prudence Martin was having the time of her life. It ended far too soon for her liking. It seems that Jack had gotten word that a navy ship had docked in Georgia to make repairs after a large storm. The HMS Hunter was stationed at Port Royal and would be returning there soon. "Well let's see how I can catch a ride on this 'Hunter'.," Pru said eagerly.

Sneaking on board the HMS Hunter wouldn't be easy. Guards were posted by the dock. Jack dropped beside her. "Most of the navy boys are on shore leave for the nigh'.," Sparrow commented. "So the two blokes on the dock are between me and me ride.," Pru grumbled. It had been a long day. "I need a diversion," Pru said slyly as she glanced at Jack. Captain Sparrow had just begun noticing the look in her eyes. "Wha' do ye want me to do? Dress in a lass' dress and…" "Exactly," Prudence said with a grin.

That night, two navy soldiers had an unusual story to tell. A rather ugly woman approached them. Murtogg, the brighter of the two, realized that it wasn't a woman about twenty minutes in the conversation. When confronted, the "woman" gave them a gold toothy grin while he/she ripped off the girl's wig. Stunned, the sailors were robbed by none other than Jack Sparrow. Murtogg immediately gave chase and every few minutes an ugly woman with short hair would run past the ship until finally Murtogg collapsed by the HMS Hunter dressed in a gown, a wig atop his head, and rouge coloring his cheeks.

On deck of the Hunter, Pru silently chuckled. "Ahoy, Jack. And really bad eggs," she whispered before disappearing into the ship.

AN: Thanks for the reviews. This is my first fic, so I'm still working my way around. I already know I'll probably go back after I've finished the story and really rework it. Right now, I'm just trying to tie the elsuive plot down. :)