Shimmering Moon

A/N: Write so long as I'm inspired.

Disclaimer: Don't own so don't sue

Warning: Maybe spoilers!

Warning: Slightly AU

Chapter 3

Black Winged Angel Christiana

"LAND HO!" a voice called out and I emerged from the cabin to see what was up.

"What did you just say?" I asked.

"I said I see land!" Maggie cried out. "There's our home ahead!"

"Captain, are we going to be here for a long visit or a short one?" James asked, coming forward to inquire.

"I don't know for certain," I replied.

"Fair enough," he said. "And if I might, it was pretty clever how you got yourself out of that fight."

"Did you think I stained my honor?" I asked him.

"Captain, we're pirates. What honor we have we get through our trickery and falseness to others. If anything, you got more," he replied.

"Thank ye, now back to work!" I said.

"Aye Captain!" he said and headed off. I drew my sword and swung it lazily several times as I continued to look at the land coming into view. It was good to be home.

We pulled onto shore with little effort after anchoring the boat.

"Captain, anything you want us to do special this time?" James asked.

"I think she'll be fine. She's anchored. You always ask that James," I replied.

"Just making sure Captain," he said sheepishly.

"Quite all right," I said with a smile. "Everyone enjoy being home for a bit. I don't know how long we'll be here but I'll let you know as soon as I do!"

"AYE!" the crew cheered and some ran off in various directions while others collected their things and went further ashore towards town.

"Going to get changed Captain?" Piers asked, coming up to me.

"All right, now we're on shore and you're still calling me captain? Piers, you're an idiot," I said.

"So you keep telling me," he replied. "Although I have yet to see proof of it."

"You are the proof Piers," I said. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to get changed." Without another word and just noting the smirk on Piers's face, I stalked off towards home. I needed some time to relax same as everyone else.

Captain Jack Sparrow

It was nightfall before we saw what looked to be shores. I made out the outline of the Shimmering Moon, its sails reflecting the moonlight. Such a beautiful ship, but still not as good as mine.

"Captain, we going ashore?" Gibbs asked.

"Aye," I replied. "Best to go at night."

"We're ready Captain, so what's the plan?" he asked.

"We're to find the Captain of the Shimmering Moon. I want my prize," I said. "What say you?"

"Aye Captain!" the crew yelled.

I smiled. "We go to shore."

Black Winged Angel Christiana

I walked along the beach, kicking up small bits of sand as I let the water run over my bare feet. It was good to be home even if it was just for a little bit. I smoothed out a ruffle in my dress and glanced out to sea. It was a beautiful color on this moonlit night. I held up my dress and headed up the beach and towards the town, although I wasn't about to go to sleep just yet. There was a spot outside of town further inland that was my favorite place to be. The fireflies were particularly beautiful this time of year and so long as I was home, I would go and see their bright light.

Captain Jack Sparrow

No one was on the beach. Not that it would have mattered. I opened my compass and took a glance at the direction it was now pointed. I'd find the lass if it was the last thing I did tonight.

The town was not guarded nor protected in any way, at least not that I could see. We were going around it regardless, as my compass was pointing past it as far as I could tell. We could always loot and pillage this place later, but my eyes were on a prize, a treasure I had earned.

I had gone by myself following my compass, telling my men to hide and wait for me to return. When asked why I simply replied to them one man would have an easier time than many. They'd all get to see her in the end. And with her kidnapping we could also get something shiny. Ransom was always what you did when you had one very valuable lass in tow, and it was a near surefire way to earn a pretty penny too.

My compass led me through the town, which was only mildly surprising. If she had a manor just outside of town or some fancy to do place like that I'd be the least bit unsurprised if she was important in this town as the Captain of her ship.

Was I being taken? She had no house outside of town. Where the hell was she? A few steps later I heard some singing and couldn't pick out the tune. It sounded a bit like the Black Winged Angel!

"Interesting," I whispered and continued to follow the compass in that general direction. I pushed aside some bushes and found myself looking at a river's edge and a figure beside it with wonderfully long silver tresses that seemed to go and touch the ground.

"Very interesting," I said and slowly, as silently as I could, headed down into the area. I approached her silently and felt my foot hit something. I looked down and saw what looked to be an empty rum bottle. I picked it up and held it by the handle. Well, I had been hit over the head with a bottle plenty of times; maybe it was time I returned the favor.

"Piers, is that you?" she asked.

"Whoa!" I exclaimed and quickly hid the bottle behind my back as she turned around.

"You're not Piers," she said. "What are you doing here Mr. Sparrow?"

"See, I could be asking you the same thing love, I have every right to kill you should I choose to right now," I said.

"I'm unarmed," she said and smiled. "But I can fight unarmed."

"That's a lovely dress, eh? What happened to your other clothes, completely ruined?" I asked with a smirk.

"Did you pride yourself on that?" she asked and placed her head on her hands, gauging my reactions and emotions. Good luck with that.

"I do," I said, standing proud.

"Well, go away," she said. "I'm asking you nicely."

"No. And would you like to know why?" I asked.

"No, I don't want to know why, I just want you to go away," she said. "You did beat me, that's true, but the battle is over now, you didn't kill me when you had a chance. You taunted, you teased, and you did everything but killing."

"That may be true, but one can always savor the taste of victory, savvy?" I asked. "Or is one not even allowed to do that." I took a few steps closer to her, keeping one hand behind my back with the bottle.

"Do I need to pay you or something to get you to go away now? Get of my village if you value your life," she threatened.

"We're both pirates love, and captains at that. Surely you know anything I wanted I would just take," I said, tightening my hand around the bottle. "Was that you singing earlier?"

"It was I," she said. "Why, don't you like music?"

"I can sing," I said, offended. "I like music. Listen…Yo ho…"

"Stop now," she ordered. "I know what song you're going to sing and you can't even sing the first note well."

"I thought it was supposed to be sung poorly," I said. "Like a real pirate. We all can't be great songbirds."

"We're really bad eggs," she sang softly and then turned away from me, looking out towards the river. "Did you come to this town just to kill me now?"

"Aye," I replied. "I want my winnings."

"Well then, it looks like we've hit an impasse then," she said as I started raising the bottle up to hit her.

"What is that?" I asked as I drew back, preparing to knock her out.

"I can't…" she started to whisper but I didn't let her finish her sentence before breaking the bottle over the head. She whispered something softer I couldn't tell before falling off the rock to the side, knocked out. I tossed the broken bottle to the side and pushed away some hair from her face. She was a beauty, her hair reflecting the very moonlight that shone upon her.

"You'll do just fine love," I said as I picked her up and slung her limp body over my shoulder. I'd tie her up as soon as I was on one of the boats back to my ship. She'd be out for a while.

Piers

I awoke with a start with a bad feeling. I climbed out of bed and went towards the Captain's room. We shared housing as a convenience. Of course, ours was one of the bigger houses of course, but I didn't have anywhere else to live. I knocked on her door to see if she was back yet. No answer. I sighed and opened the door. Window was closed, bed was made, she hadn't returned from the river yet.

I headed down the stairs and grabbed for my coat. Walking towards the river at a quickened pace where I usually glimpsed the Captain to see if she was all right. There was a voice inside my head going 'she is grown up now' but I ignored it, even as it plagued me with its comments, 'she's a grown woman now', 'you know she can take care of herself' and 'just leave her be'. I glimpsed out onto the river bend and saw something glinting. I moved across the thick grass towards the stone I would see her upon and saw the glinting object was a piece of a broken glass rum bottle. She had been drinking again? Why did she feel like she had to?

I shook my head, she wasn't a child and she was perfectly in her own right to drink if she wanted to. I had to remember that. But the broken bottle was worrisome. Someone had taken the Captain.

For a fleeting moment I wondered if I should hate them or pity them. They really didn't know what they just got themselves into. But it was only fleeting.

"SOMEONE'S TAKEN THE CAPTAIN!" I yelled as I ran back into town.