Vanessa Owens was the name of my Captain. She was taller than me and had brown eyes that matched her shoulder length brown hair. She had always been a reasonable woman, who would be nice enough once you got to know her better. She was a bit like me really; we both found it hard to trust people, but once we did then we'd be kind and probably make friends if it was the right sort of person. Now, standing on the side of her ship, The Blooded Ruby, I was thinking of how to tell her that I wanted to leave. Sure, over the time I had spent on her ship, we had become some-what friends, but would she be ok with it? I had no idea how she would react, I'd never seen anyone leave her ship before. Taking a deep breathe, I finally made up my mind to go over to her. Walking up the stairs, I came up beside her and cleared my throat to start speaking, "Captain, I need to tell you something." She looked over at me with a smile and I thought that just maybe, she wouldn't get mad.

"What is it Chris?" she asked, using my other nickname that only she used.

"Well I was thinking that I'd really like to become a Captain one day, one as good as you, and also have my own ship. And I was wondering if you could help me out, because I'm planning on leaving sometime soon…" I replied, saying the last part slowly, expecting her to start getting angry at me for wanting to leave after she took me in on her ship.

First, she smiled as I called her a good Captain; then second, she looked shocked at the mention of my leaving. I thought she was going to start shouting, but she just smiled at me again.

"I knew you'd come up to me one day, couldn't see you staying here on me ship forever." she stated, while I smiled back at her, relieved that she wasn't angry.

"I didn't think you'd know, but you always did know things before anyone told you. So how do you think I'd be as a Captain of me own ship then?" I asked her with a grin on my face.

She laughed, answering honestly, "You'll do great, I know you will. As for helping you out, I know a Captain who has a ship to give away, at a price of course. I can also help you with a crew, although we will have to go to Tortuga for both. Think you'll be ok going back there?" She gave me a concerned look, and I had to smile at her kindness. She wasn't anything like this when I first met her, but that was when she didn't trust me.

I then nodded my head, "Yeah, I'll be ok. Besides he's not even there anymore, so I've got nothing to worry about. Thanks for helping me out though, you're a great friend." I said giving her a soft smile, which she returned.

"Well what are friends for right?" she joked, and I just grinned. "I guess we're going to Tortuga then." She added while looking at me.

I nodded and replied flatly, "Guess so."

She then gave me a nudge in the shoulder, and I smiled. She smiled back, and then nodded to the rest of the crew on deck, indicating that I needed to get back to work. I knew that signal off by heart now and nodded back, going back down onto the deck and joining the crew, ready to get on with the jobs for the day ahead.

Tortuga

We had been sailing for several hours, it was just past mid-day and we had only just docked in at Tortuga. Once all the crew were off the ship, all of them wished me good luck about being here again. I didn't really need it, but I smiled in thanks anyway. I was just glad that my father wasn't here anymore; otherwise I wouldn't have even stepped off the ship. Now being back here, sure it hurt a little from the memories, but I wouldn't let that get to me. I wasn't going to go back to the weak, scared little girl I used to be. I was a lot stronger now. Captain Owens had stayed back with me, to help me meet up with this Captain who has a ship and also to help me find a crew. I sure was going to miss her when I left. Walking beside her down the docks and onto the streets, I looked around and there were still drunks and whores everywhere you looked. Some things never changed.

"We'll be meeting Captain Shade in the nearest tavern. He's always in there." Vanessa said, bringing me out of my thoughts. I didn't answer, so she carried on, "Just little things you should know. He likes to be challenged. He can tell if you're lying, so tell the truth. He likes it if you can stand up for yourself, and... That's about it really."

I nodded, "Right, well I like a good challenge anyway, and I'm always standing up for myself. As for telling the truth, I won't really need to unless I have to. I'm good at lying." I stated confidently, while she looked at over at me with a raised eyebrow and a small grin on her lips.

About ten minutes later, Captain Owens pointed up ahead while saying, "That's it."

I just nodded silently and walked with her until we both reached the door. I was about to walk in, when she grabbed my arm, stopping me and turning me back round to face her, causing me to look confused.

"There's something else I forgot to mention. If he asks you to do something that'll prove that you deserve the ship, then make it something good. Very good, because if it's not good enough then he'll just shoot you." She explained rather quickly, and just as I was about to say something, she cut me off. "Ok, let's go inside!"

With that said, she practically ran inside just before I could grab her and ask for an explanation. I sighed, 'Great, so I might end up getting killed today. That's just perfect.' I thought as I then made my way inside of the tavern. Once inside, I looked around in search of my Captain, but couldn't spot her anywhere. The typical drunks were drinking, and the whores were planting themselves on men's laps, while the music played on in the background. Walking further in, a few people cleared out of the way and my Captain was over near the back wall talking to another pirate, who I guessed was Captain Shade. He looked like he was in his forty's, with dark brown eyes and hair that was just above his shoulders. My guess was right as his eyes then fell upon me and he motioned me over to him with his finger. I kept my eyes on his as I started walking over, letting him know that I wasn't going to back down. I could see Captain Owens watching me, and taking a step to the side as I now stood in front of Captain Shade. His eyes wandered over every part of me as a creepy grin formed on his face, and I held back the need to narrow my eyes at him. 'How dare he look at me like that!' I thought, although I stayed quiet to let him speak first, which he did.

"Miss Cooper, 'tis a pleasure to be making your acquaintance." He said through the roughness of his voice, and bowed his head towards me.

I put on a smile and bowed my head back, "Likewise, I'm sure."

His creepy grin widened slightly as he then stood up and started to walk behind me, his eyes wandering over me again. I had to grit my teeth, I had only known him for less than five minutes, and already he was getting on my nerves. And I could tell from the corner of my eyes that he was getting on Captain Owens nerves too, she was watching him very closely.

"So, Captain Owens tells me you want me to give you a ship, is this true?" He suddenly whispered near my ear.

I turned my head just slightly, while replying with a somewhat irritated tone , "Aye, why else would I be here?"

He studied me for a second, before coming back round to face me. "So do you think you can convince me to give you a ship? Do you think you're worthy enough to handle a ship?" He asked me, before tilting his head like a bird.

I locked eye contact with him and the tiniest fraction of a smile came onto my lips. "Yes. I do." I stated simply.

At this he raised an eyebrow before narrowing his eyes at me, clearly showing that he didn't believe that I could. "Hmm… Then why don't you prove it to me, my dear."

I just nodded silently, when I suddenly thought of something and opened my mouth to ask him the questions that were running through my mind. "So I can do anything? You won't call on any of your crew to attack me once I've done it?"

He narrowed his eyes again, this time in curiosity and seemed to be thinking about his answer before he replied, "If anyone will be attacking you Miss Cooper, it'll be me, and aye, you can do anything."

I nodded my head again, and turned round so my back was to him and my Captain. I took a few steps forward, using the few seconds I had to think through my plan, then lifting up my right arm and wrapping my fingers round the handle of my pistol, I took it out of my belt. Clicking it without Captain Shade or Captain Owens being able to see, I then turned back round. As quick as I turned, I aimed my pistol in the right direction and pulled the trigger, causing the bullet to land into his foot. As he yelled out in pain, I began to make my way over to him with my pistol still pointing at him. I hadn't noticed that the music in the background had stopped playing, or the fact that his crew were now all behind me ready to attack. The only things I was noticing was the yelling coming from Captain Shade and the look of shock on my Captain's face. She obviously didn't think I'd do anything like that, and to be honest, I didn't either. But I was a pirate, and I wanted a ship. Plus nothing else really entered my mind.

I now stood before him, with my pistol underneath his chin, making him look up at me. He looked at me and laughed through the pain that was still coming from his foot, obviously not noticing his crew creeping up behind me.

"You've got guts lass, that's for sure. No one's thought of getting me before." He gave me small grin.

I shrugged as if it was nothing, "Well I had to persuade you somehow. So have I proved myself worthy, Captain?" I sent him a grin as I emphasized his title, which he clenched his teeth at, clearly not impressed.

"Aye, just as long as you don't shoot me again. You can pick which one you want at the docks, I'll be staying here, seeing as I can't walk properly now." He shot me a look, before softening his gaze just slightly and continuing, "Whichever one you choose, look after it. I don't give me ships to just anybody lassie."

I looked at him with both eyebrows raised; shocked that he had actually let me have one of his ships. I then smiled, this time genuinely, and nodded my head once before replying. "I won't shoot you again, and I promise I'll look after any ship I choose. Thank you, Captain Shade."

He gave a smile and nodded back, before noticing his crew coming up behind me. This made him shoot up off his chair, wincing from his foot and stumbling a little, causing him to lean on me, which I allowed seeing as he'd just agreed to give me a ship. He glared at them all, and shouted at to them, "Anyone even dares to hurt her, will deal with me."

They all slowly put away their weapons and backed away, going back to what they were originally doing, I glared at all of their backs for even thinking for wanting to attack me. But then again, I did shoot their Captain in the foot. I looked at him and gave him a quick smile as he sat back down in his chair. I then looked over at Captain Owens and she still looked shocked at the whole situation, I had to hold back a laugh as I only imagined that by the time we were out of Captain Shade's sight, then she'd start rambling on at me about it all.

Looking back at Captain Shade, I began to speak again, "Well I think me and Captain Owens should be going now. Need to go find me self a crew; that's after I've got me self a ship of course."

He chuckled lowly, "Aye. Here's luck to you, Miss Cooper." He then raised his drink, gave me another nod and took a sip of what I imagined was to be Rum.

I nodded back, then Captain Owens came over to me and we both made our way out of the tavern and back into the streets of Tortuga; to make our way to the docks to find me my very own ship.

Author's Note: So, this was the second chapter and as you can see, i made it longer than the first one. Hopefully all my chapters will be long like this, or longer it just depends how much muse i have. :P

So yeah, if you liked it then please leave a review, add to your favs and you know all the rest lol. I promise, Jack and everyone else will be coming soon, i'm just starting with Christina for now and then i'll dive right in and get her involved with the first film. Hehe, bye! x