Fair bit of warning, there is a deleted scene from the movie in this chapter. I did not add anything, full credit to Disney.

Enjoy!

Chapter 4: Nightmares and Propositions

The nightmare did not improve my mood at all. It wasn't the scariest I've ever had but it was definitely weird.

I was in this dark enclosure. Nothing but black but I could still see as if the sun was out. Walking skeletons surrounded me. These skeletons were just your average skeletons, nothing but white bone that shone in the darkness. Each one had a sword, pistol or both.

There were hundreds of them in a circle around me. They just stood there, as if waiting for a command. One of them had a fancy hat on its bare skull. Somehow, in my mind, that indicated that he, or she, was the leader. It's hard to tell the gender from bare bone. The leader pointed its sword and laughed. It was a terrible laugh, like the sound of claws scrapping against stone.

Then the skeleton army advanced. They didn't attack me with their swords or guns. Their skeleton hands pulled at my hair and clothes, a few even managed to rip off some of my skin. It didn't hurt, I was just like Huh, that's interesting. In the back of my mind I thought they were trying to get me to join them.

Finally, they stopped. The leader advanced towards me, its sword was raised like it was going to attack. It laughed its terrible laugh and brought the sword down on my head. Before the sword connected I heard a loud clanging noise.

Suddenly, I was back in the waking world. Cold sweat had dampened my shirt and dripped down my face. I was breathing hard, almost panting. Sitting up I looked around. Oh yeah, I'm in prison.

Looking to my left I saw Jack knelt near the cell door. He was starring at me, his dark brown eyes filled with confusion and concern. "Bad dream, lad?" he asked.

"Yeah, but I've had worse." I replied between breaths. I swung feet over the stone step and sat up.

"Huh." Jack said. He had a bone in his hands. I started to panic but then remembered he had been using it to pick the lock.

"How's that door coming?"

"Not good." Well at least he's honest. Jack went back to work. I wiped the sweat from my brow. Last night wasn't the first nightmare I've had. I've been susceptible to them since I was a little kind. My mind tends to make scary situations more dramatic while I sleep.

I was standing up to stretch when a familiar face came down the stairs. It was the apprentice blacksmith Will Turner, my only adult friend in Port Royal and sword fighting teacher.

Jack leapt back from the cell door as soon as he heard him. He was lying on his back with his hands behind his head, totally relaxed.

"You, Sparrow!" Will started.

"Aye?"

"You were familiar with that ship the Black Pearl?"

"I've heard of it."

"Where does it make berth?"

"Where does it make berth?" Jack sounded flabbergasted. "Have you not heard the stories?"

Obviously Will hadn't heard the stories. Jack sighed. "Captain Barbossa and his crew of miscreants set sail from the dreaded Isla de Muerta. It is an island that cannot be found except for those who already know where it is."

"Well that doesn't make any sense. How can you find a place that can't be found unless you've already found it?" I asked. Will looked up me, just realizing I was there.

"Jason, what are you doing here?" he asked, sounding a bit frustrated.

"Stole a ring and ol' Norrington finally caught me."

"We've talked about this. I warned you, if you kept stealing you would end up in jail."

"Well, you were right, now stop rubbing it in my face." I said a bit more aggressive then I had planned. Will looked stunned then went back to his conversation with Jack.

"The ship is real enough. Therefore its anchorage must be a real place, where is it?" he asked hastily.

"Why ask me?" Jack asked examining his fingernails.

"Because you're a pirate."

"And you want to turn pirate yourself, is that it?"

Will furiously stepped towards the cell, his face pressed up against the bars. "Never." He spat.

Jack went back to admiring his fingers. Will looked at me, pleading for help.

"Don't look at me. Half the time I can barely understand him let alone get him to help." I stated. Jack leaned his head back to give me a hard look.

Will thought for a moment. "They took Miss Swann." He reluctantly said.

"Oh, so it is you've found a girl!" Jack exclaimed. "Well if you're ready to brave all and hasten to her rescue to so win the fair lady's heart, you're going to have to do it alone, mate. I see no profit in it for me."

"I can get you out of here." Will said.

"How's that? The keys the run off." Jack said.

"I helped build these cells. These are half-pin barrel hinges." Will grabbed a bench behind him and put the legs between the bars. "With the right leverage and the proper application of strength the door will lift free."

Jack eyed Will. "What's your name?"

"Will Turner."

"That would be short for William, I imagine. Good, strong name. No doubt named for your father, eh?" Jack asked, sitting up.

"Yes." Will said suspiciously.

"Uh-huh." Jack stood up. "Well, Mr. Turner, I've changed me mind. If you spring me from this cell I swear, on pain of death, I will take you to the Black Pearl and your bonny lass. Do we have an accord?" Jack stuck his hand through the bars.

Will grasped it. "Agreed."

"Agreed." Jack parroted. "Get me out."

"Hold it!" I shouted. Both Will and Jack looked at me. "You two have obviously forgotten that I'm still here. You can't talk about gallivanting after pirates in front me and not expect me to follow."

Jack grinned. "You know how to use a sword, lad?"

"Of course, Will taught me."

Jack thought for a moment and then nodded. "The more the merrier, as the saying goes." with that Will lifted the door free.

"Quick!" he urged. "Someone would have heard that."

"Not without my effects." Jack said rushing to the table to gather his things. He picked up his pistol in his hand.

"Why bother with that? You could've escaped if you had killed me before, but you weren't willing to use it." Will said, indicating toward the pistol.

Jack pointed it at Will "Are you advising me that was a mistake." Will stiffened and took a step back. "When you've only got one shot it's best to wait for the opportune moment. That wasn't it, nor is this." Jack lowered the pistol and put it in his belt.

"I have a feeling that you two met before today." I said. Jack nodded grimly while Will looked triumphant. I chuckled and gathered my things, or thing. All I had to retrieve was a small knife. It was sharp and I was very skilled with it, but I only used it in desperate situations.

We rushed out of the prison and headed down to the docks. There we stopped under a stone bridge. I noted we were close to the Interceptor. Jack was looking at the Dauntless which was anchored just off shore.

"We're going to steal a ship?" Will asked. "That ship?" he nodded towards the Dauntless.

"Commandeer. We're going to commandeer that ship, nautical term." Jack said pointing at the Interceptor. He turned around and faced Will. "One question about your business, boy, or there's no use going. This girl? How far are you willing to go to save her?"

"I'd die for her." Will said passionately.

"I wouldn't." I mumbled.

"Good, no worries then." Jack said, ignoring me. Will and I eyed him skeptically.

"So what's the plan? How are we going to commandeer the Interceptor?" I asked.

Jack turned and gave me a mischievous grin. "Follow me."

A short time later the three of us were walking underwater. It's not as cool as it sounds. We held a longboat over our heads to keep the oxygen in. The only thing I was disappointed about was that I couldn't see anything beside the inside of a boat. I was between Will and Jack. Jack was in the lead

"This is either madness or brilliance." Will said behind me.

"It's remarkable how often those two differences coincide." Jack said.

"How did you learn this trick?" I asked. "A test based on a theory or something more luck related?"

"It was definitely luck. I prefer not to talk about it anymore." Jack left it at that. In my mind I was thinking of all the ways Jack could have accidentally learned this. I chuckled at some of the images that popped into my mind.

"What's so funny?" Will asked.

"Nothing." I replied, trying to hold in a laugh. Jack turned to us and pointed up. "Are you sure?" I asked.

"Of course I'm sure. Now get to it." Jack ducked under the boat. I sighed and followed him. I always loved swimming and was very good at it so I easily caught up with Jack. Will was behind us trying to catch up.

We reached the surface, gasping. Apparently Jack was counting how many steps we took because we ended up right at the Dauntless' stern. Jack began scaling the ship. I followed with Will behind me.

Halfway up I looked down and saw Will untangle his foot from a lobster trap. He hung the ropes on the exposed rudder and continued climbing. Seeing me starring he grinned sheepishly. "My foot got caught." he explained.

"Yes, of course." I said mockingly and continued climbing. On top we drew our swords, or their swords and my knife.

"Everyone stay calm!" Jack shouted. "We are taking over the ship." he walked down the stairs to the main deck to face the crewmen. Will jumped over the railing and landed next to him.

"Aye! Avast!" he shouted. Oi. I thought rubbing my forehead. Jack shot Will a look. The crew of the Dauntless and her captain, Gillette, started laughing.

"This ship cannot be crewed by two men and a mere boy." Gillette said sneering at me. "You'll never make it out of the bay." I really hate that man.

Jack took out his pistol and pointed it at Gillette. "Son, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. Savvy?"

Soon the ship was now free of naval men and Jack was ordering Will and me around. "Jason! Turn loose that square-rig!" he shouted.

"You want me to do what to the what?" I shouted back. Jack mumbled something under his breath.

"Climb up to that sail and untie the ropes connected to the sail!" he shouted pointing to a square shaped sail. I nodded and climbed up the rigging. There I tried to keep my balance and made my way to untie those ropes. By the time I had gotten three of them I heard Jack calling from down below.

"Belay that previous order, Mr. Serner! Get down here."

"Make up your mind!" I shouted and began climbing down the rigging. As soon as my feet touched the ground Will grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and dragged me towards the bow of the ship.

"Get in." Will ordered, pointing to a barrel and walked away. What? I didn't argue though. In the distance I saw the Interceptor making its way toward us.

I climbed into the barrel and stayed quiet. Norrington's men came on board. "Search the ship! I want every corner checked down to the bilge!" I heard Norrington shout. A bit fussy, are we? Moments later a shadow fell over the barrel. I drew my knife, ready to attack.

"Put that knife away, lad. Come on." Jack grabbed the back of my vest and pulled me out of the barrel.

"Just because I'm younger than you doesn't mean you can drag me around." I complained quietly. Jack said nothing but let go of my vest. We sneaked up to the railing where Will was waiting. He handed me a rope and the three of us swung over to the Interceptor.

Will made quick work of cutting the mooring lines connected to the Dauntless while I readied the sails. Jack went up to the helm. "Thank you, Commodore, for getting us ready to make way. We would've had a hard time with it by ourselves." the naval crew fired their muskets at us. I ducked to avoid getting hit.

When we had gotten out of range I stood up and breathed in the salty air. I was finally sailing away from Port Royal. I couldn't believe it! No more Norrington, no more running, no more scavenging for a mangy piece of bread! I was so happy I laughed.

I ran up to the helm and looked back at the Dauntless. "So long Norrington , you bloody git!" I shouted and laughed, not knowing if he could here me or not. Looking back at Jack I saw he was grinning at me.

"You happy to be out of that port, lad?" he asked.

"More than you know."

"Alright, go turn loose that square-rig. That's an order, Mr. Serner."

"Aye, captain." I ran off the helm and climbed the rigging. Slowly, I made my way across square sail and untied the ropes. The sail fell down and caught wind and flapped about. Jack was at the bottom and quickly tied off the loose ropes. I stayed up there for a few minutes, feeling the wind in my hair and gazing at the surrounding sea. I love the ocean.

When I jumped down from the rigging Jack was still tying off loose ropes. Will was sitting on a barrel, sharpening his sword. Lazy bones.

"When I was a lad living in England, my mother raised me by herself. After she died I came out here, searching for my father." Will said.

"Is that so?" Jack asked, clearly uninterested. He went up to the helm. Will and I followed.

"My father, Will Turner. At the jail it was only after you learned my name that you agreed to help. Since that's what I wanted I didn't press the matter. I'm not a simpleton, Jack. You knew my father." I stood near the two, leaning against the railing. Jack sighed. "I knew him. Probably one of the few that knew him as William Turner. Everyone else just called him Bootstrap or Bootstrap Bill."

"Bootstrap?" Will and I asked.

"Good man, good pirate. I swear you looked just like him." Will looked stunned.

"My father was a merchant sailor. A good, respectable man who obeyed the law."

"He was a bloody pirate, a scallywag." Hah, scallywag's a funny word.

Will drew his sword. "My father was not a pirate!"

"Ah yes, and killing our captain will change that fact. Brilliant, Turner!" I said mockingly. Will glared at me.

"Put it away, son. It's not worth getting beat again." Jack sighed.

"You didn't beat me." Will said defensively. "You ignored the rules of engagement. In a fair fight I could kill you."

"Then that doesn't really give me much reason to fight fair then, does it?" Jack turned the wheel, making the boom swing to the left, knocking Will off is feet and hanging him over the water.

"That was pretty clever." I admitted. Will glared at me again as if asking Whose side are you on?

"Now, as long as you're just hanging there, pay attention." Jack started. "There are really only two things that matter in life, what a man can do and what can't do. For example, you can except that your father was a pirate and a good man or you can't. But pirate is in your blood boy and you're going to have to square with that someday." he briefly glanced at me then turned back to Will. "Now take me for example, I can let you drown, but I can't bring this ship into Tortuga with only an inexperienced boy for help. Savvy?"

"I resent that comment." I said. Jack grinned at me and spun the wheel. The boom hovered back over the deck and Will dropped down.

"Now, can you sail under the command of a pirate," Jack picked up Will's sword and pointed it at him. He flipped the sword around so that Will could grab the handle. "Or can you not?"

"Tortuga?" Will asked, taking his sword.

"Tortuga." Jack confirmed.

It was smooth sailing after that. Jack led me through the ship and explained everything. I listened intently and tried to remember every detail. The fact that I was on a ship again made me so happy I could barely think.

Ever since I stowed away onto that ship from France to Port Royal I had wanted to be back on the ocean. I guess that's why I loved going to the docks so much. The sea always seemed to be calling my name.