Shimmering Moon

Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean

A/N: Spoiler alert! If you haven't seen the newest movie, (which most probably have not at this point) then you might not want to read this.

Warning: Semi-Alternate Universe

Warning: Some Spoilers (Major and Minor)

Chapter 1

"Ah, sir?" Mr. Gibbs asked cautiously. I looked over at him and raised an eyebrow.

"What is it?" I asked.

"There's a ship approaching us," he stated. "And it looks like it's catching up."

"Approaching?" I asked and went to the side of the Pearl and looked over and back. Sure enough, a ship was behind us and gaining fast. There was no flag being flown, but the silvery sails added a nice sense of elegance to the ship itself. "Oh damn."

"Do you know who it is Captain?" Mr. Gibbs asked.

"Gibbs, we had better find a way to outrun it," I said and went up the mast for a better look. If it was who I though it was, then our only chance of getting out of there without a scratch was to outrun those fine silver sails.

"Why don't we just fight it?" Gibbs called out from the deck. "Surely a ship like that with those sails would have some treasure worth taking."

"Right, now…" I trailed off and looked towards the ship again and then shook my head and jumped down in front of Gibbs, letting go of the rope and catching my balance slightly. "The treasure on that ship is not worth it."

"How so?" one of the crew asked.

"You've never heard of the ship with silver sales before?" I asked. "Honestly, you've all heard so many tales but none of the Shimmering Moon?" Recognition seemed to appear on several faces at the mention of the name.

"Why do you want to outrun that?" another crew member asked. "Surely you don't believe all those stories you've heard."

"I don't believe I do, but if the legends turn out to be true, do you really want to face the Black Winged Angel?" I asked. Several crew members started shaking their heads. Cotton's parrot said something along the lines of 'No' but still others seemed more intrigued than before.

"Captain…" Gibbs said cautiously. "I doubt we can outrun the ship. It's either fight or you attempt to do some fancy talking with this Black Winged Angel to let us go."

"You doubt the Black Pearl?" I asked.

"I've heard these tales just as much as you. You don't outrun a ship run by magic," Gibbs said. "And they've almost caught up to us as well." I looked over the side again and sure enough, the silver sails had gotten much closer than before, and in such a short amount of time.

"Aye, it looks like it," I said. "It looks like I'm going to be doing some negotiating here in a minute, eh?"

"Aye sir, looks like it," Gibbs replied. This was going to get interesting.

"Hello? Anyone there?" I asked as the Shimmering Moon pulled alongside us.

"What? Can't you see we're going to board you? Prepare for arms! We want a challenge!" a voice yelled and from behind the mast a man in a bluish gray suit stepped out and came to the side of the ship and looked at me, crossing his arms. I don't know who that guy was, but he had blue hair, a color I had never seen on anyone before.

"What the hell are you man?" I asked. "Some kind of a ghost?"

The man laughed. "No, I'm no ghost. Are you going to prepare to fight or not?"

"I don't see any of your men out and about getting ready to board," I stated simply. "I'm assuming you're the captain then?" He didn't respond, but a smile started to form on his lips.

"And what if I am?" he asked after a short pause.

"Perhaps we can negotiate then," I replied. "Because from what I've heard about your ship, you're a group of pirates same as us. Why take out another pirate ship when there are so many other choices?" They wanted to make sure we were armed? Either very nice of them or they were just bluffing. I hoped it was a bluff.

"Because you're a legend, Mr. Jack Sparrow…" he said. "And what's more fitting for legends to fight and take on one another? Come on man, give a fight!"

"Are you saying there isn't enough room for two legends to roam the waters?"

"Why not make one more legendary by killing off the other?"

"Ah, sadly see your point there mate."

"Good, so then you'll arm your men and we can fight?"

"I don't see your crew anywhere good captain," I said. "Without a crew it makes fighting very hard, unless you're known for that little Black Winged Angel."

"Ah, so you've heard that name," the man said thoughtfully. "It's a well suited name to be sure."

"How about this mate? Why don't you and I just fight? Captain to captain, man to man, and that will decide who wins."

"So when I win, I get the Pearl?" he asked.

"I don't even know your name though," I suddenly realized. "Or should I just call you the Black Winged Angel?"

"My name is Piers. So you really just want to settle this captain to captain? Are you that against bloodshed?"

"I just know I won't loose," I replied.

"Good sir, you stand little chance against the captain," he replied. "Upon which deck should the fight be held?"

"On mine if you would, I wouldn't trust yours…"

"The crew of this ship will want to watch…although they've seen the captain fight before they want to see you…" Piers trailed off.

"Your crew is welcome to come and watch the fight, although I don't see any crew," I said, looking around the ships deck.

"Just because you don't see a crew working on deck doesn't mean they aren't there," Piers replied.

"Right you are," I said. "So, when should we fight?"

"Right now if you don't mind," Piers said, "We'll give you a few minutes to clear off a space on your…deck."

"Right you are."

"Good," he replied and walked off.

"Was that a good idea Captain?" Gibbs asked. "Challenging the Black Winged Angel to a duel?"

"I'm a pirate mate; I don't exactly have to play fair."

"Neither does he captain."

"Right, that might make things interesting…but remember Mr. Gibbs, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."

The crew of the Shimmering Moon was actually a fair number of men, and if my eyes didn't deceive me, a fair number of women too. As Gibbs put it, women were bad luck to have on a ship, and here it looked like this crew had about half of them as women. They weren't exactly treasures, but they weren't crones either.

"Well Mr. Sparrow, it looks like this should be interesting," Piers said as he finally arrived onto my ship.

"Captain Sparrow," I corrected automatically. "Welcome to the Pearl."

"What are the stakes then? You wanted a duel, so I assume it's to the death to see who shall be the reigning legend on the seas?" he asked.

"Yes, but I would like it if the crews of the looser either joined the winner or sailed back to Tortuga safely at least," I said. "Just to be kind."

"Kindness from pirates…ah, you remind me of our Captain right now," he said with a sigh as he walked towards his crew.

"What…you mean you're not the captain?" I asked, following after him. "You failed to mention that."

"I never said I was or I wasn't. You just assumed it," he replied with a feral grin, tossing his blue hair over his shoulder. "You can call me Piers, the pretty boy first mate."

"Right…" I trailed. "So where is the real captain then?"

"Already over here," he replied. "Has been from the beginning. Just step into the circle of our crews, you'll see."

"You're a good pirate mate," I complimented. "Had me totally fooled I'm afraid."

"And you're going to be completely surprised too," he stated. "Hope you don't like your pride."

"Why's that?" I asked.

"Because you're about to face defeat," he replied. "Oh, here she comes."

"SHE?"

"That's right Captain Jack Sparrow. I'm the Captain of the Shimmering Moon. Black Winged Angel Christiana," a voice piped up and from the mast of my own ship a woman in light gray and blue clothes jumped down and drew her sword. She tossed a small strand of silver hair over her shoulder. "Pleased to meet the legend at last. Now prepare to die."