Came up with this one after a beer commercial, surprisingly... can't remember which one it was. Just remember that there was some old guy with a map tattooed on his back.

Hurry, hurry! I glanced around, searching for the ideal escape route. Behind me, I could hear horses closing in and the clattering of swords in their sheathes as they bounced off the hips of the Spaniards chasing me. It's not like I wanted this! Leaping over a barrel, I hurried through the deserted cobblestone streets and dove behind some crates at the last second. I held my breath as the thundering hooves stampeded past, and slumped against the crates with a sigh as soon as they were gone.

"That was close."

I need a way out of this place. I can't keep running from them forever. Peeking my head over the crates to see if the coast was clear, I snuck out from my hiding place and pulled my grey cap lower over my eyes. Seems I was over by the port, judging by the salty breeze that cut through my white shirt and breeches. So I headed towards a rather large ship and crept aboard, determined to get out of Spain with my body at least somewhat intact. I'll just have to merge with the crew or be caught…

"I'll stick with da crew." I muttered to myself, pulling my cap over my face and preparing to sleep in the small shadowed area under the stairs leading to the upper decks. Tomorrow's going ta be a long day.

"'ey! Look what I found under da stairs!"

I was wide awake as someone shouted this, grabbing me by the back of my shirt and dragging me out from my hiding place to show me to the rest of the crew.

"Look like we got ourselves some extra cargo!"

I was thrown backwards onto the main deck, as the crew laughed, and went to sit up and retort, only to feel the cold metal tip of a sword pointed at my throat.

"What do ya think we should do with 'im boys?"

I swallowed thickly as cheers of "Skin 'im!" and "Throw 'im overboard!" were shouted by various crew members. It was then that I realized it. I hadn't climbed aboard a merchant's ship like I had originally thought. No, I was on a pirate's ship. Suddenly though, my body kicked into a fight or flight response and I quickly chose fight. I'm not going to die now!

Clenching my jaw shut, I swung my foot up and kicked my captor's wrist, knocking the sword out of his grip and catching it as I stood up; pointing it threateningly at him. The crew stopped laughing immediately and I watched from the corner of my eye as they all reached to grab their own weapons, formulating a plan in my mind. Taking my chances, I kicked the man in the gut and ran to the side, climbing up the ropes with the stolen sword in my mouth.

Shouts of outrage filtered up from below as I worked my arms to carry me up further away from the pirates below. I have a better chance up here. They can't attack as a group if I'm up here. Wrapping one arm around the ropes so I wouldn't fall, I took the sword from my mouth and faced the pirates as they climbed up after me.

"Come down 'ere ya little runt!"

"Not in yer life, baldy!"

His face twitched in anger and I laughed as they had all finally reached where I was. With a smirk, I clashed swords with the man who had reached the top first and easily unarmed him and made him lose his grip on the ropes, thus falling into the ocean. I managed to defeat a few more like this, until I heard shouts from above and behind me. Seems there was a way to get to where I was other than the ropes I had climbed up. That's not good, but I have managed to get a majority of them up here so all I have to do now is get down. With a smirk, I untangled my arm from the ropes and gave the remaining men a salute.

"See ya later~"

With that, I threw my sword onto the deck and jumped nimbly from the ropes, ignoring the shocked voices of the crew.

""e's mad!"

"Aye! Ya bet I am!" I shouted back, reaching out just in time to grab a rope and swing down safely to the decks once more, kicking a left over crew member overboard.

I pulled my sword from the boards where it landed and spun around, blocking a man as he tried to slice me through. Disarming him, I used the hilt of my sword to hit him in the stomach and ran up the stairs. Unfortunately, someone had been laying in wait for me behind one of the masts and quickly grabbed me before bringing a sword to my throat.

"Drop yer sword."

I did so, knowing that I had no way out of this one as cheers ran up once more from the crew. As the strong man brought me back down to the main deck, keeping a good grip on me to keep me from pulling anymore tricks, the crew gathered around once more with swords drawn.

"I say we run 'im through!"

"Aye!"

Swallowing and trying to ignore the sting as the sword cut into my neck, I ran my eyes over the crew, trying to remember the name of the pirate code that might possibly save me. Parsley, partly, parcel, parlor…ah!

"Parlay!"

I was immediately met with glares from the crew and one of them came forward.

"And how do ye know of the pirate code?"

"I-I, uh-"

"Granted." Came a deep voice from behind us.

Everyone turned to look at, who I assumed was the captain. He was older with graying hair, but I could tell he held authority just by the way he carried himself, coat and all.

"But captain-"

The captain glanced over at the man who spoke and he immediately shrank back in line with the rest of the group, before the captain turned his sights onto me.

"Release him."

The sword was removed from my neck and the man behind me stepped back, but I suddenly wished he was still threatening to kill me as the captain stepped forward. I felt severely dirty and underdressed when compared to the captain's fluttering black coat, bright red sash, and tri-corn hat versus my torn brown breeches, shoeless feet, and dusty shirt. His sharp, icy blue eyes glowered down at me and I forced myself to stare back evenly.

"What's your name, lad?"

Oh, that's right. They all think I'm a male. I suppose that will make things harder for the Spaniards to find me. "L-Lark."

He raised a brow. "That's it?"

I nodded.

He frowned, but looked me over carefully. "Take off yer cap."

I slowly reached up, unsure how he would take it, and removed my cap; showing the crew my blonde, near white, hair. I wasn't sure whether the look he was giving me was good or bad and I ignored the quiet whispering of the crew around us, waiting for his reaction. The odd thing was, he didn't give me one.

"Why were you on my ship?"

"I-I…" I knew better to be truthful, so I spit out a half lie. "I was trying to get away from my father." I said, replacing my grey cap.

The captain gave me another once over. "You any good at anything, boy?"

I gave an unsure nod. "I-I'm okay with a sword and can clean and cook."

He nodded and set his gaze back on the crew. "When do we make port?"

"Not for a few days, captain."

"Then what say ye to this lad stayin'?"

"Stayin' captain?"

"Aye. A cabin boy. Swabs the decks, cooks, and does well with a sword. Could use an extra hand."

"If the captain says so." One man said.

"And the rest of ya?"

"Aye!"

I glanced up at the captain in shock as he gave me a small smile. "Looks like yer stayin' lad. Work hard."

I nodded, eyes lighting up for more than just one reason. For one thing, I'm not dead! Not only that, but I get to stay. Maybe I can learn some things from them. Turning to the crew, they all stepped forward and began complimenting me; patting me on the back and such. I smiled, feeling more cared for than when I was at home with my father even though I didn't know how long I'd be with this crew.

Funny thing was, I ended up staying a good few years. The crew took quite the liking to me and my cooking too. Mostly my cooking, I think. But after a good ten years of staying with them, I felt the need to move on. They didn't mind, having sensed that I was a very…free spirited individual and they let me go, but not without saying their goodbyes. After that though, life didn't exactly go as planned.

Seems the law had started to catch on to me and I ended up in a…rather large fight with a Mr. Beckett. The man was seriously stubborn about catching me too. Somehow I managed to get away though, but not without some scars. In fact, I was damn lucky he didn't see my back, or I might have never gotten away. Needless to say, I considered myself very lucky.

Once I had gotten away from him though, I started to make a name for myself. It was unwanted, mind you, but word just got around and I became known as a mongoose. Odd choice in animals, but fitting I suppose. I always did seem to fight catches bigger than me. And since the name was sticking, I went ahead and got a nice inking of a mongoose attacking a cobra on my stomach. Painful, but completely worth it, I think. That, and I got some interesting designs to go around my arm as well. I believe they called them…tribal inkings.

After that though, I traveled a bit on other ships and went around from Africa, to India, to China, and even over to Singapore. I was soon heading over to Port Royal though and stayed there for a good number of years, trying to earn myself some cash since my stock had run out. Although, I must say, my way of earning money isn't exactly a…righteous way of doing so. But hey, I'm a pirate, as the brand on my arm will tell anyone. I covered it up with a leather bracelet though. Don't need to be getting arrested. The odd thing was, I made a friend.

Curious, right? A pirate making a friend? But I did. Will Turner, he said his name was. He's a good fellow, helped land me a job at the blacksmith he works at too after he caught me stealing. I still do steal every now and then, but Will tried his best to keep me in line. I taught him sword fighting too. We have some great spars every now and then, but he doesn't know I'm a pirate. I suppose I should tell him, but then he'd probably arrest me or kill me. I suppose that doesn't make us good friends then, huh?

"Hm." I hummed, contemplating that thought as I snatched an apple from a nearby food stand and calmly rounded a corner before taking a bite.

I'd been hanging around Will for a good number of years as well, having turned 27 recently. Or maybe it was 28? I can never keep track of such things. Shaking my head, I bumped into someone and apologized.

"Sorry 'bout that."

"Oh? It's not like you to apologize, Lark." Will's voice sounded out, laughter hidden in the subtext of his words.

I raised a brow and knocked hips with him as I walked past. "Ah! My apologies, Will! Seems I bumped into ya again!"

He laughed and I smirked as he came up beside me to walk back to the blacksmith with me. In comparison, I suppose we're both very different from each other. I walk with a bit of a swagger whereas he walks with a purpose, and we both dress differently; me sticking to rolled up sleeves (or torn off sleeves) , breeches, knee-high boots, a dull red sash around my waist, a tri-cornered hat, a black wig (to hide my blonde locks), and a long black coat (should I be out and about), while Will stuck to the usual brown vest, long sleeves shirt, breeches, and some knee-high shoes. Needless to say, I looked like a pirate and Will looked like a simple boring guy.

That, and he's eyeing my apple. I took another bite out of it, watching Will from the corner of my eye.

He frowned. "I hope you're not stealing again."

"Now why would I do that, Will?" I said, taking notice of the people around us and trying to be somewhat indiscrete. "I'm a decently paid blacksmith assistant who can pay for my own apples. What need would I have ta steal?"

He rolled his eyes at my theatrics, and scolded me lightly. "You'll end up in jail, if you're not careful."

I nodded. "Aye, but that's why I have you. Ta bail me out."

I winked at him and he laughed, shaking his head. "I won't always be there to bail you out, Lark. And stop talking like that. People are going to start questioning if you're a pirate or something."

I frowned. "Ya don't like the way I talk? You know it's better than actin' all sophisticated, Will. 'ave a little fun now and then, eh?"

"Right, right. Forgot you were all about fun and no work."

It was my turn to frown this time. "'ey! I work! Better than Mr. drunk o'er there!"

We had just arrived at the smithy and I was gesturing to our supposed master who had drunk himself into a stupor once more. The man was drunk more days than I could count.

"Yeah, yeah." Will said, as he picks up a newly finished sword and put it in an elaborate case.

I leaned over his shoulder and hummed. "Hmm. Present for the gov'na then?"

"Yes. And I would appreciate it if you didn't get your apple all over it." He grumbled, closing the case as I snickered.

"Right. Wouldn't want ta ruin your chances with the lovely Lizzy." I cooed and he groaned in response.

"It's Elizabeth! And…I don't have a chance with her anyway."

I couldn't stand to see him all depressed and snatched his feathery hat from off a chair, plopping it on his head.

"Now, now, Will. Who says ye don't have a chance?"

"She's a noble, Lark! I'm just a blacksmith!"

I raised a brow, snatching a bottle from next to our master and taking a swig. "Yer going to let somet'in like rank stop ya? And here I thought I was teachin' ya sword play to impress her."

"T-That's not the only reason!" He stuttered, "I thought it would be a useful talent."

I laughed. "Aye! And I'm the bloody king of England!" I drank some more and then returned it before swinging an arm around Will's shoulder as we left the smithy. "Now see here, Will. Ya have more talent than half the commodores in town. Any lass would be impressed by that and we both know you and Lizzy-"

"Elizabeth." He corrected.

I rolled my eyes. "Elizabeth are close. So who's ta say you don't have a chance at winnin' her heart, eh?"

He sighed. "I guess you're right."

I smirked, having spotted the port, and smacked Will hard on the back. "Of course I'm right! Now go over there and impress her while I go take a look at the ships in the harbor."

He took a deep breath and straightened up. "Right. But don't end up getting into trouble like you did last time."

I strutted away with a large grin and a wave. "I'll try!"

Will shook his head and continued his walk to the governor's house while I walked along the port, eager to taste the salt of the sea after being land bound for so long.

"Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me."