A.N. I am a little disappointed that only 1 person has reviewed my last 2 chapters! And as such, I thank Jandra1969 for said reviews. As fer the rest o' yer scurvy dogs; 'you may kill me but you can never insult me,' as a great pirate once said, and I'm sure I'll live. That doesn't mean I don't want reviews!

Again, a lot of this was written before, it just needed to be proof read and spell checked.

A Pirate's Life: New Adventures

Chapter 3: The Troubles Start

The sky had begun to darken and the sidelights were lit around the ship, illuminating the 'Black Pearl' and the 'Troubadour' beautifully in the shadows. The flickering light cast long, eerie shadows on the dark sails and on the deck, making for a rather sinister atmosphere. The crew had left Jack sleeping of his hang-over in his cabin, being at sea it wasn't the most comfortable bed in the world, but it was better than letting him lie on the hard, wet, wooden deck of the ship.

Most of the crew were now sat around the main mast where they'd hung lanterns from the thick ropes on the mast. They were attempting to teach young Will to play Lanterloo, (*1) or some were concentrating with furrowed brows at scrimshawing by candlelight.

Of course the official rules didn't apply to the pirates attempting to teach the boy the card game and its objective so Will didn't have a hard time understanding their 'rules'. There was a small pile of silver and gold coins, pieces of jewellery, carved and scrimshawed bones and small scraps of fabric in the centre of an informal circle. All the while the crew were attempting to get a peek of the others' cards so they jealously guarded their hands with serious looks on their faces.

"I miss," Gibbs muttered as he tossed down another coin on the pile.

"Miss," Marty muttered.

"I win!" Will exclaimed with a happy look as he shuffled towards the pot of wagers in the middle. He still wore Jack's battered tri-corner hat and his dark hair peeked out from the sides around his face.

"You chea'ed!" Ragetti said stupidly.

"Oh, and you didn't? Anyway, I didn't, that's a flush, see! That means I win the pot!" the boy shouted back lifting his cards.

"'E didn't chea'," Pintel muttered and threw down his cards in anger.

"Damn," Marty muttered as he too tossed his hand aside.

"Kid's go' skill," Barty of the 'Troubadour' sighed and Tom nodded sadly as he shot one last look at his shiny gold coin atop the pile before it was snatched up by small, pale hands.

"Abandon ship…*squawk*…abandon ship!" Cotton's parrot screeched.

"Aye," Gibbs muttered with a nod as he drank from his small flask.

Captain Teague watched in amusement from his seat on the left side steps that lead up to the poop deck with his guitar in hand. He smirked as the group of pirates sulked like small boys…while the only small boy aboard the ship was examining his winnings with happy eyes. Teague turned his head curiously as he heard quiet crashing noises coming from the captain's cabin, and loud swearing flooded the quiet rushing of the waves.

They watched, some in amusement, some in long suffering exasperation as Jack emerged from his cabin, sans coat, thick belts, and pistols with a hand nursing his bandana covered forehead. The clearly hung-over captain swaggered over to the rail; his legs swaying with long practice with each wave keeping his balance effortlessly even in his addled state. Their game over, and none feeling up to losing again they made their way over to the captain.

Anamaria came to stand just behind him just as he muttered, "'M not doin' tha' again," as he leaned heavily against the railing.

"You've made tha' promise before, Cap'n," she said and he jumped round to stare, surprise at her.

"Don'…do tha'!" he whispered and winced at her, or at least what seemed to him to be, her loud voice.

"What's wrong?" Will asked the captain with shining gold and silver rings bobbing on his small fingers.

"Idiot go' himself 'ung-over, didn' 'e," Anamaria told him as she walked over to the helm where Jack's coat still hung. She brought it over to the man and draped it over his shoulders to ward off the cool night air.

"What's that mean?" the boy asked as he looked up from a particularly large silver ring that kept sliding off his thumb.

"'Eadaches," Gibbs answered, still drinking from his flask.

"Loud noises," Tom added sadly.

"Brigh' ligh's," Mullroy sighed as he made flashing gestures with his hands.

"Sick," Ragetti muttered with a disgusted look on his thin, tanned face mirrored by a similar look by Pintel.

"Three sheets t'wind," Barty smirked.

"Which makes for a useless cap'n," Anamaria smirked as she watched the boy stare with a confused look at the captain.

"No' my faul'," Jack muttered as he continued to lean over the side of the ship.

"Who's is it, then?" Will asked but Jack mimed 'shushing' gestures with his hands as he winced.

"…Ol' King Georgie…" he replied quietly, the boy still looked confused but he didn't question the man further, instead he carried his winning back to the cabin that he and his mother were sharing with Anamaria.

"Mother, mother…look what I won," he called to Elizabeth who was resting below deck. He pried open the door, which closed with a loud 'slam' in the wind and Jack groaned as the sound shook his head.

"Should know better by now, Jackie," Teague said honestly as he plucked the strings on his guitar.

"...Ay...Ay..." he muttered only half listening. The quiet sounds of his father's old, familiar guitar was slowly soothing his aching head as well has the soft sounds of the waves against the hull.

As his awareness slowly returned Jack began to recognise the slow melody being played by Teague. He stared out at the sea as the crew continued their duties.

During the day Elizabeth and young Will had been helping Anamaria in the galley, she insisted that while she was onboard the 'Pearl' she wanted to eat like a human being rather than a pig. As soon as Ana had joined the crew again the men had all been forced out of the galley but they didn't complain since it outweighed living on hardtack and grog. (*2)

And today, while the captain had been sleeping in his cabin the two crews had met for a meal of well cooked salmagundi. (*3) Leftovers of which were brought up to the captain by Will, who had retuned from the cabin with Elizabeth behind him. The boy was was still in possession of the man's hat as he

"Ta," Jack muttered as he took the dish from the boy and sat down on the free steps on the right side. Unusually, there was a polished fork resting in the food, most likely put there by Elizabeth meant as a jab against his manners and hygiene no doubt. So he decided to surprise them by showing that he could use manners if he so chose to.

It didn't take him long to finish the food, and he had to admit that Anamaria was the best cook who'd ever served aboard the 'Pearl.' When he went to take his place at the wheel a disapproving first mate stopped him.

"Yer in no condition to be behin' tha' wheel!" Anamaria told him sternly.

"Been worse, 'm fine," Jack muttered as he tried to make his way to the helm.

"Maybe, but since my son's safety depends on this ship being steered safely, I'd rather you didn't," Elizabeth said, "Don't make me order you."

"Order me?" he repeated incredulously.

"King," she reminded him and he grumbled unintelligently under his breath.

But reluctantly Jack decided to agree and left the wheel in the capable hands of Mr Cotton and his parrot in favour of his cabin bed as the night outside wore on.

The sunrise over the Caribbean ocean and the two ships sailing side by side was as beautiful as always, and it bathed the ships in the kind, first light of the morning. The majority of both crews were already awake and the men from the 'Troubadour' and 'Black Pearl' were calling morning greetings to each other in passing.

"Sail ho!" Marty shouted for the second time in as many days.

"Who is i'?" a tired Gibbs shouted back from the deck.

"Can't tell!" the short look-out replied, "…Could be th' navy."

Gibbs and the crew ran across the deck to squint at the ship on the horizon; it was a ship large enough to rival the 'Pearl', but soon they could see a second ship as well.

"Lor' 'ave mercy," Gibbs muttered soon as he made out the ships ahead.

"Who is it?" Elizabeth asked as she ran across the deck fastening her oriental dress round her neck.

"First rate ships o' th' line…'undred guns each a' least, two of 'em" Gibbs told her with a grim look.

"Well, it'd be dangerous for them to attack us at best, and the 'Troubadour's' with us, it's too risky," she said hoping to convince herself more than anything.

"Yer think they were lookin' fer us?" Gibbs asked.

"It's a big ocean, 's'like a needle in'haystack…Navy ain't that daft...are they?" Anamaria asked staring out with worried eyes at the ships ahead.

"They migh' no' do anyfin'," Pintel added hopefully but Gibbs shook his head uncertainly and ran quickly to the captain's cabin.

"Cap'n!" Gibbs shouted as he ran into Jack's cabin without the formality of knocking. He found the captain lying asleep in his messy bed with his clothes, dreadlocks and bandana all askew. "Wake up, yer no good son o' a..." he shouted as he shook the man's shoulder.

"Wha'?" Jack muttered as he jumped awake at the shouts of his first mate.

"Navy ships, Jack, two of 'em, big ones," the older man explained as Jack blinked his eyes awake and pushed the sheets aside.

"They seen us?" he asked, pulling on his boots and shaking off the after effects of his hang-over.

"'S a fair bet, Cap'n," Gibbs nodded and within seconds he was following Jack onto the deck. The young captain stared across at the approaching ships with a growing sense of foreboding hoping that he would be able to mask the pounding headache that was waging war on his mind. "Orders, Cap'n?" Gibbs asked Jack as he turned to examine the ships through the spyglass.

"No chances," Jack replied, snapping it shut, "Make ready th' guns, yer freebooters!" he shouted to the crew. "Run ou' th' sweeps!" he added running across the deck "And wait for my order!" He wasn't looking forward to fighting two heavily armed navy ships even with the aid of his father's crew. He could see the crew of the 'Troubadour' hauling open the hatches and readying their own guns to his right side.

They could try to outrun them…but that wouldn't do his reputation any favours, and they could have enough common sense to leave them alone. But they couldn't take that chance. Out of the corner of his eye Jack could see a man on the 'Troubadour' waving his arms, seemingly to get his attention. So he looked across at the helm and saw his father in his usual flamboyant red justacorps coat…wondering suddenly where his own faded grey coat was…he saw the man mime something to him.

Jack nodded in agreement.

"Hard to port," he shouted running up to the helm, "We'll luff up on their port quar'er," he explained. He'd have to leave the oars, he'd added them for speed but too much speed and they'd overtake his father's ship, leaving the 'Troubadour' vulnerable.

There were many people Jack would abandon in a sticky situation, but his father was not one of them. "Hoist th' colours!" He watched as the 'Troubadour' changed course to take the starboard side and raised their own flag. They couldn't take any chances; with the law…and thereby the navy cracking down harder on piracy than ever it was all the more important to be in control of such situations.

Jack didn't know what was going to happen; were the navy going to attack? Were they going to be able to sail straight through the navy without a fight? It was unlikely that they would simply ignore two wanted pirate ships, crews and captains when they had sailed right to them.

As he was focusing on bringing the ship on its course he felt a small drop of rain land on his cheek and he looked up to see rain clouds that he was sure hadn't been there when he had left his cabin.

The two navy ships continued to draw closer and closer and now the sun was almost completely hidden by the clouds giving the 'Black Pearl' a smokescreen in the shadows, making it look like a ghost or a spirit of the sea itself. Jack wondered whether this was Calypso's warped sense of humour in action or if she was attempting to help him. If he had to guess he'd say it was humour on her part.

"Jack...she's flyin' the white flag!" Gibbs called up to him.

It could be a trick, the British crown would love to have Jack and crew at a public hanging. "All 'ands at arms! Get to it yer dogs!" he shouted to those on deck and they found their positioned armed with riffles and pistols while below deck the rest of the crew readied the cannons.

As the two opposing sides drew even closer Jack could make out the people rushing round on the decks of the navy ships. They were beautifully crafted and painted feats of engineering. With the customary yellow and black of the royal navy and two layers of gun decks. And they were indeed flying white flags, whereas his flew the skull and crossbones with the red sparrow.

He glanced cross at his father's ship to see that all the men were at arms and awaiting orders. But it would be best to see what the navy ships were planning. "Keep an eye on 'em , Gibbs!" he shouted and his first mate lifted the spyglass and stared out at the ships.

Soon the two ships of Jack and Teague contained the two navy ships and a man wearing than ornate blue and gold justacorps coat and white wig stood and stared across at Jack.

"Captain Sparrow, I presume?" he called across.

"Aye," Jack answered. At least this one remembered his title, maybe they could get along...maybe.

"I am Captain Richard Atkinson, I wish to parley," he said.

"You Navy?" Jack frowned. He'd never come across a navy man as a pirate who's requested a parley before. Was this some kind of trick?

"I am," the man replied.

"'Ow d'I know you ain't gonna fire on me a' th' first opportunity?"

"I give you my word," the captain said and Jack almost snorted with laughter. But on closer inspection, the ships gun ports were closed, the men were on deck, and unlike Jack's crew, they were not pointing guns. It was a risky move on captain Atkinson's part. And Jack couldn't help but appreciate that bravery in a fellow captain.

"Yer wan' me ter step on a navy ship, or will you be gracing the 'Pearl' with your presence?" Jack replied.

"I suggest neutral ground, captain," he replied.

"Where migh' tha' be?"

"There is a small island not far from here, we passed it recently," Atkinson said after a moment.

"No offence, ma'e, but I'm no' in the business o' trustin' the word o' a man 'o the crown," Jack said with a smirk.

"Then by all means, you choose," Atkinson replied.

Jack thought quickly but if memory served then Atkinson was more than likely correct about the island of Pelegosto. The island of the crazy cannibals that thought he was a god in human form. Why, oh why did It have to be that island? But if worst came to worst the tribesmen would always aid Jack if he ordered it...if he was lucky.

The cloud coverage made said island difficult to see but it should be close. It was the closest thing to neutral ground for miles and miles of open ocean. It could prove more productive than firing aimlessly at each other.

"Wot did you 'ave in mind?" Jack asked him.

"I bear you no ill will, Sparrow," Atkinson said and Jack muttered his title to himself quietly. "If you convene with us then I will pardon you of your recent crime against his majesty the king, meaning your the theft of royal property, and the subsequent marooning of East India tradesmen that occurred last week."

Oh, this man was cleverer than most navy imbeciles, but what was one more petty offence against the list he already had?

"Assuming I know wot yer talkin' about...which by th' way I don', that would mean tha' I'd 'ave ter care fer me record, which I also don'. So you go' nofin ter bargain wif, d'yer, captain?"

"I suppose I don't, captain, however the only other alternative is watching our crews destroy our respective ships. And that's not one I particularly favour," the man replied, and Jack's respect for the man increased. This was no ordinary navy captain.

"I'm Captain Jack Sparrow, I ain't afraid o' no skirmish wif th' navy, ma'e, yer should know tha'," Jack replied.

"Indeed, I do, and neither am I with pirates, but I am wary of pirates with rewards of 10,000 guineas on their heads," the navy captain replied.

"10,001, actually, ma'e," Jack corrected.

"Of course," the man said with traces of a smile, "But I believe we've lost sight of the purpose of this conversation, Mr Sparrow."

"Captain..." Jack muttered to himself again. Was it really so much to ask for a little recognition of that one little word? "Pelegosto i' is then!" he sighed.

"I beg your pardon?" Atkinson replied in confusion. Jack recalled that only among pirates were the tribes' names known.

"The island yer meant. Each captain brings three men...or women..." Jack replied and the man nodded and signalled his second ship while Jack's crew informed the 'Troubadour.'

Within minutes all four ships were sailing for Pelegosto island as small rain drops began to fall from the heavens.

(*1) Lanterloo, or Loo was a popular 17th century card game, if you want to know more search it on Wikipedia or something.

(*2) Hardtack is basically dry bread and biscuits. Not very yummy! And grog is watered down rum that was usually used by the Navy since they disapproved of constantly drunken sailors.

(*3) Salmagundi was a typical pirate meal of chopped, cooked meats, vegetables, fruits, seafood eggs, and dressing.