Title: Luck of a Pirate
Author: Dana aka Puck
Summary: Lady Luck gives Captain Sparrow some extra cargo to drop off at his newest destination but how well will he be able to handle it? And, if this is really that important to you, it's author's universe (AU).
Author's Notes: I'm sorry that I deleted "The Deep and Timeless Sea" aka "Quantum Leap" but as I kept writing it, I just saw some long and rather boring fic so out the door it went. Someday I may resurrect it but right now, I'm movin' on. I hope this one does better and ya'll like it.
DISCLAIMER: I in no way, shape, or form own any of the commercial or historical characters (read: any characters you recognize from Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean" or your history books) in this piece of writing. I make no profit off of this other than advancing in my own writing skills and gracious advice from any reviewers. In other words, you have nothing to sue me for. Enjoy.
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Chapter One: The Luck of Cap'n Jack
Jack hated the rain. It was wet and cold and created mold and caused unnecessary stops and made all sorts of sea creatures think that they could live in the depths of his ship where no one would find them until they overpopulated the damned thing. Plus, it made him depressed, which was never something that the light-hearted captain enjoyed. Due to the severity of the storm, the crew of the Black Pearl had been forced to dock at a small port in the Caicos Islands, a port that much resembled Tortuga but was much lesser known. He ordered his men to be back on board by dusk of the next evening, after the storm had passed. "Aren't ye coming ashore with us, Cap'n?" Gibbs asked.
"I'll be along eventually, mate. I want some quiet to get our bearings for our next destination."
"And that would be?"
"For me to know and you to find out, savvy?"
Gibbs nodded, not quite understanding his captain fully but leaving with the rest of the crew all the same.
Thus, Jack was left alone, nothing but the flickering of the lanterns in his cabin casting creative shadows across the weathered walls and the soft pattering of the rain against the boards of his beloved ship.
He pulled out his weathered maps and their respected instruments and set to work, muttering to himself every so often. He knew they were headed northeast but he was unsure of exactly what bearings to take. Going upon either coast, America's or Africa's up through lower Europe would be dangerous; the waters teeming with English vessels and slave ships. A straight shot up through the middle of the Pond would be the best, however, it was extremely risky. They'd have to rely on Lady Luck and passing ships for supplies. Jack groaned and threw himself back in his chair.
"Why am I thinkin' this is worth it?" he grumbled. He hated sailing into unfamiliar territory and not being able to find an easy route only pissed him off all the more.
Hauling himself up out of his seat, Jack decided that a drink or two would clear his thoughts. The pitter patter on the deck above him reminded the captain of the wet and cold outside.
"Bloody 'ell," he growled, his mood worsening but his mind still on the fact that a little wetness outside would be worth the warm liquid in his belly. Pulling on his long, worn jacket, the captain noticed a small hole and a button missing. "And o'course, I've got no one on board who bleedin' sews. Ain't this night turnin' out to be a lovely one?"
He opened the door to the elements, holding a lantern out in from of him to watch ropes and other paraphernalia waft freely in the damp, dark storm. He strode quickly down the stairs of the 'Pearl, into her depths and retrieved a few bottles of rum, cursing the small sea creatures, anemones and such, hiding themselves in the darkness down there. "Note to self," he muttered on his way back up to the main deck, "next time one of the crew pisses me off, I'll make 'im clean those damned creatures out down there."
Just as Jack turned to head back into the safe warmth of his cabin, something caught his eye. He spun, hand on his pistol, and looked around. "'Ello?" he called, holding his lantern out, both bottles of rum safely stowed in some deep pockets of his jacket. The captain found his guts and conscience tugging to go check the crow's nest but rolled his eyes, very used to ignoring these two sub-conscious signs. "Since when 'ave I ever listened to you now, anyways?" he told his body, spinning again and slamming the door of his cabin. Shadows in the darkness could wait, he had some bearings to find and some drink to consume.
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A few hours and quite a few drinks later, Jack grinned in triumph, setting his compass down and stared at his finished product. "Ah ha!" he cried, taking another celebratory swig of an almost empty rum bottle and making his way outside. Now that he knew their proposed course, he could get that little nagging itch of what the Hell was in the crow's nest out off his mind.
'Probably just a bird looking to escape the bad weather.'
The storm had quieted down, the rain ceasing completely and only a slight wind pushing the rest of the clouds away from the port. Jack gazed up at the sky and found a slightly blurry north star before lowering his line of vision to the little-less-than-dark horizon. He guessed he had three or four hours yet until daylight. Just enough time to quickly check the crow's nest before making a leisurely swing around the little port to see if any of his "acquaintances" were still mulling around and had an hour or two to "catch up" with ole' Cap'n Jack.
Finishing off his bottle of rum, the good captain sauntered towards the main mast and shrugged off his jacket and effects. 'No sense in having the things weigh me down when I'll only be but a minute,' he thought, beginning to climb the netting. However, the higher he climbed, the more slippery the roping got.
"Almost there mate," he reassured himself, going to grab another holding, only feet away from the lookout. His grasp slipped, however, and he found himself dangling, unable to get a good handle or footing.
"Great," he grumbled angrily and let loose a string of nicely chosen curses. "Thank ye, Lady Luck! Perfect time for yer blessing to run out, really!" He finished in a voice volume that neared a roar.
"Yer welcome, Jackie boy!" A cool, almost chipper, voice called. "Glad I could be of service!"
The captain wretched his neck around and, upon seeing no one, figured the rum was getting to him… again. He returned to his attempt at getting a good grip on the ropes when two pale legs dangled next to his head. The captain glanced up and groaned.
"Oh bloody 'ell, not you again," he grumbled before putting on a charming grin. "'Ello there, luv."
"Oh shut ya trap, Jackie boy, yer in no position to be cursing the likes o' me an' then denyin' it." A girl snapped. She was small and child-like, bathed in a pale white light that seemed to emit from inside of her. Her hair and skin were this same colour and her garb mimicked that of a fae. The girl seemed more of a ghost than a person.
"Really now? Well, then, my sincerest apologies. How's about helpin' yer ole' Jackie then, eh? For ole' times sake?" He kicked at the netting again, trying to make a point. His arm was really starting to get tired.
"I dunno… you don't seem too fond of me anymore." The girl feigned a disappointed sigh.
"What makes you say that, luv?"
"Oh… I dunno… YOU JUST BLEEDIN' CURSED ME OUT YOU GOOD-FOR-NOTHING, ROTTEN SON-OF-A-STRUMPET!" She yelled at him.
Jack cringed. "Now, poppet, ye know that was simply out of emotion. I didn' mean it!"
"Prove it to me, birdie. Can ye fly like yer namesake can?" She queried, lifting one of her fingers, causing one of Jack's to lift with it.
"I highly doubt that, luv!" He cried in a panicked voice. "How can I be of service to ye?"
The girl smiled. "That's more like it, my Jackie boy. I can see more of that young thing I helped out all those years ago emerging every minute. But," she grinned, "now that you make the offer..."
"Go on," he urged.
"There's something I've hidden up here that I need ya to take care of for me. Don't go grumblin' about how ye don't have time or any o' that shit neither because I always know you have time for the right things an' this 'ere," she pointed behind her, "is a right thing indeed. I know where yer goin' and it's exactly where I need this right thing to be dropped off. Take care of it, understand?" She stared at him, pale eyes burning into his.
He simply nodded.
"Good, 'cause if anythin' 'appens to this 'ere package, not only I but me sister, Fate, will be after yer arse, Jack Sparrow, and that's not somethin' ye'll be wanting to square with."
Jack paused. "And what's my end of the bargain again?"
"Your life?" she replied with a half smile, lifting another one of her fingers and thus, lifting another one of Jack's.
"Anythin' else?" he asked hurriedly, clamping down with his remaining three fingers on the rope.
"My, my, my, aren't we a greedy little pirate? In return I shall, once again, grant you my blessing. It's all you've seemed to need these years. Your quick little mouth seems to do quite a nice job of getting you out of sticky situations."
"So it would seem, aye?" Jack grinned. "Now then, my dearest Lady, what sort of thing am I supposed to dump off at my final destination?"
"Look in the nest and remember: big things come in small packages. And, for Fate's sake, stay out of trouble!"
Jack looked around but Lady Luck was gone. Suddenly, the ropes didn't seem so slippery and Jack managed to haul himself up into the crow's nest and there, clinging to the mast for dear life, was what looked like a child, wrapped in an immense blanket which concealed any notion of a gender or age. It seemed to be asleep (or unconscious) and shivering fiercely.
Jack sighed, gazed up at the sky and groaned. As a non-verbal response, the ship rocked dangerously. "I KNOW I KNOW!" He yelled at the sky. "I'm not gonna say it!" He picked up the small bundle, hooked it over his shoulder, and began the decent down, easy as all to-do.
"Well, glad to know that you've kept your word Lady," he muttered, heading into the cabin to dry and warm the thing.
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So, what'd ya think? You'll get a description and some more information in the next chapter. That is, if anyone liked this first one. I'm thinking that Fate might pop in sometime later, when they're already on their course but we'll see how it goes, aye? Reviews are much appreciated!
Cheers!
Puck
