Ch. 4

Marie struggled to secure the heavy sail. "Need some help?" someone asked above her.

"I'm fine," she said. Mumbling an oath, she tugged even harder on the rope. Wordlessly, the speaker reached down and helped her hold up the sail as she knotted the rope. "Thanks," she muttered, looking up. She was surprised to see the young man who had come onboard with Will that morning.

"No problem," he replied. "Your name's Marie, right?" She nodded. "My name's Juan," he said, bowing as much as he could without falling off the narrow beam.

"Nice to meet you," Marie said, starting to climb back down. "What brought you aboard the Black Pearl?"

Juan shrugged. "It was better than hanging." As they both landed lightly on deck, a shrill whistle indicated the end of the watch. "I'm gonna go get some sleep," he said, turning to go. "But I'll see you later, Marie." Marie nodded and watched him leave. She was still staring after him when she spotted her father watching. Hurrying below deck, she disappeared before he could say anything.

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As she sat slowly drinking a mug of rum, Marie decided that night was the best time onboard the Black Pearl. For an hour or so every night, most of the crew crowded into the galley. It was generally chaotic, and tonight was no exception. Numerous songs competed with each other, while other men tried to tell stories over the boisterous noise. The result was an incoherent roar.

"Mind if I join you?" Juan asked over the shouting. Marie nodded and moved over on the bench. "I've got to hand it to these guys," he said, setting his drink down. "I've been part of several crews, but I've never seen one quite as lively as this."

"They're all pretty wild," Marie agreed. Juan started to say something, but was drowned out by sudden cheering. Looking to the center of the room, they saw two men slowly circling each other. After a few seconds, Marie was shocked to realize that one of them was her father.

"I don't want to fight you, mate," Will was saying through clenched teeth.

"I wouldn't wanna fight me neither," his opponent replied, swinging his fist drunkenly. "But maybe you shoulda thought o' that before arguing with me."

Will easily dodged the blow. "You made your point, Blakey," he said, his dark eyes flashing fiercely. "Now stand down. That's enough." In response, the large man swung again, this time connecting squarely with Will's jaw. Spitting out blood, Will muttered, "That's enough." Blakey went for a third punch, but Will caught his arm easily and twisted it behind his back. Within seconds Will had his opponent pinned to the ground with a knife at his neck. "I said, that's enough." The man looked up fearfully, but his eyes weren't on Will.

"What's going on in here?" Jack asked loudly.

"Blakey 'ere had too much to drink, as usual," Jake spoke up. "'e an' Will started arguing 'bout somethin', an' next thing we knows, they're at each others' necks."

Jack looked at the two men, who had both stood up and were glaring at each other. "Well? Did we work out our differences?" he asked.

"As long as he never brings it up again, we're fine," Will said evenly. Crossing his arms, he added, "But I am watching you, mate." Scowling, the man strode off muttering something about everybody conspiring against him.

As everybody went back to their activities, Will sat down near Marie and Juan. "I've never seen you fight like that, Will," Marie said, deliberately using her father's first name.

He shrugged and ignored it. "That wasn't a fight. It was just a physical solution to our disagreement," he said. "I've been in worse."

"What did he say that got you so angry?"

"It was nothing," Will said, waving his hand dismissively. "All I'm going to say is that tomorrow, you're learning how to fight."

"J- Captain Sparrow said I didn't have to take orders from you," she said stubbornly.

"He isn't giving you this order," Jack interrupted. "I am. I require for all of my crew members to be adept fighters, and I trust Will's judgment concerning an individual's abilities."

"I know how to fight," Marie said, turning to her father. "You taught me everything I know."

"Ah," Will said, raising a finger, "but not everything I know."

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"Again," Will said sharply. Marie groaned in exasperation. She had done nothing but simple moves like reversals and parries for over an hour, and it was apparently all Will intended for her to do for the remained of their "session".

"I've known all these moves since I was ten years old," she complained when he made her do it yet again.

"Good," he said dryly. "Then this should be easy for you."

As Marie did the various moves over and over again, Blackbird stood to the side and watched. "Your technique's all well and good, Will, but the lass is never going to learn until she uses her body more."

"You try telling her that!" Will said in exasperation. "She doesn't listen to me."

Blackbird took the sword from Marie and expertly twirled it. "It's been a while since we sparred," she said casually.

"Blackbird, not now…" he groaned. "I'm getting too old for this…"

"You're no older than me," Blackbird said, giving the sword a few practice swings. "And nobody gets to call me old as long as I'm defeating them every time we fight."

"Are you trying to provoke me?"

Blackbird stretched her arms limberly. "Did it work?"

"It might've," Will said casually, unsheathing his own sword and taking a few steps toward her.

"Then I most certainly was."

"This is just a spar, not an all-out fight," he warned her. "It's for educational purposes only."

Blackbird shrugged and flourished her sword in a salute. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

They began to slowly circle each other, swords drawn. "Footwork is the foundation of all fighting," Blackbird said, keeping her eyes on Will. "It's like a dance. Just make sure you don't take your attention away from your opponent in case they try to surprise you."

"Like this," Will said, suddenly switching hands and dropping to one knee to come at her from below.

Blackbird jumped up easily to avoid the blade and retaliated. "Yes, but hopefully they'll be a bit better at it." They kept going, their blades accelerating faster and faster until it took all of Marie's concentration just to keep up. Will began slowly pressing Blackbird backwards up the steps toward the helm. He almost had her cornered when she suddenly reversed direction and instead began forcing him back. Will flipped easily over the rail onto the deck below, with Blackbird following close behind. Blackbird lashed out with her feet, but Will had come to expect that move and easily moved out of the way. What he hadn't anticipated was for her to use the momentum from the kick to roll behind him, coming up in such a position that it was easy to simply reach out and touch her sword to his neck. "I win," she said, struggling to conceal her heavy breathing.

Will sheathed his sword and gave her a challenging look. "I let you win. I was getting bored."

"Oh please," Blackbird said, rolling her eyes. "I beat you and you know it, Will Turner. If you can't accept that I'm the better fighter-"

"Better, maybe, but boring," he interrupted. "You use the same moves you did when I met you eighteen years ago!"

"And yet they still work."

"Children!" Jack interrupted from where he'd been watching. "Do I need to send you to your rooms?"

They both stopped and grinned at him. "We're fine, Jack," Blackbird said. "I was just reminding my little brother who's better-"

"Excuse me, but last time I checked, we were twins."

"Well one of us still had to be born first."

"And what makes you think it wasn't me?"

"Actually, as I remember it, Blackbird was born about two minutes before you," Jack interjected.

"I give up!" Will exclaimed, throwing his hands up in mock-exasperation. "I don't know about you two, but I have better things to do than sit around and bicker all day."

"Aye, like maybe the job I'm paying you for," Jack said mildly. Looking around at the men who had gathered to watch, he added, "In fact, every one of ye should be working! What is this, a private yacht? Back to work, ye worthless dogs!"

A/N: Not much to say...review, please: )