Hello everyone! I'm back with a new story for Pirates of the Caribbeans :D I hope you enjoy this one!

Jonathan Knight knocked on the door softly but he got no reply. Thinking that his only child had fallen asleep, he opened the door silently and he entered the dark room. The moonlight shed its ghostly light on the floor and partly on the occupied bed. The tall sailor tiptoed to the bed and he was amused that his daughter had once again covered her whole body. Not even a single lock of her raven black hair was visible. Jonathan drew back the covers carefully to glance at her sleeping face but he was greeted by a cushion. With a flick of his wrist, the covers slid to the floor, revealing a few cushions underneath it.

"That girl is going to be the death of me", he murmured and then stormed out of the bedroom. "Guards!" he called out in a powerful voice.

Four armed men immediately appeared with a low bow to their employer.

"Katherine disappeared again", he said.

"We'll look for her right away, Captain Knight", one of them replied and they spread out with the intention of finding the young girl and to inform others of one more of her many escapades.

Jonathan sighed and he went downstairs into his study room. He barely glanced at the charts at his desk and he simply sat in his chair and heaved yet another sigh. It was not the first time that Katherine had pulled such a stunt but it all started after the death of his wife, his beloved Nora. He could swear that the ten years old girl had inherited his fighting spirit and his bravery while she got her sense of adventure from her mother.

And those traits of hers always got him in a worried mess since she would somehow manage to go out on her own without anyone else noticing.

A knock had him looking up and one of the guards entered the room with the tiny girl behind him. "Sir, we found her out at the docks", he reported. "She's unharmed".

"Thank you, Mr. Louis", Jonathan said with a nod to the man who excused himself and left the child with her father. The Captain grimaced at the girl's disheveled state and he motioned for her to approach him. Once she was close enough, he lifted her up and sat her on his table in front of him. He tucked some strands of her dark hair behind her ear and he cupped her small face, making her look up at him.

"Katy, my love, you had me worried again", he said softly. "You scare me when you go off alone".

"I'm sorry for worrying you, Papa", she apologized sincerely as she looked in his greenish blue eyes.

"Never mind that now. Come, I'll put you to bed".

Jonathan picked up the girl in his arms and he carried her to her room where he put her into bed and tucked her in for the night. "Goodnight, Katy", he whispered and kissed her forehead. "I love you".

"I love you more, Papa".

The man chuckled and he waited until he was sure that she was sleeping before he left her.

The next morning, Katherine was woken up by her personal attendant and the older woman helped her to get dressed for the day. Once she was done, she headed down to the dining hall to find her father talking to a man who looked quite important. He left just before she entered the hall.

"Good morning, Papa", she greeted softly.

"Good morning, sweetheart!" Jonathan replied cheerfully. The two of them ate their breakfast silently and although the older man was done before the girl, he waited for her to finish. "Katy, accompany me in the garden, will you?" he asked with a soft smile and he took her hand as they headed outside.

"Who was that man, Papa?"

Jonathan looked down at the small child who glanced up at him briefly. "Actually, I needed to talk to you about what he said", he told her with a hesitant voice. He knew that what he was going to tell her would most probably make her cry but he had no other choice. They sat on the large swing in the middle of the garden and he used his feet to push them to and fro lightly. "You see, there is a war out there against pirates. They have been destroying nearby ports and they have threatened the Company", he explained slowly. "As one of the Captains in the region, I have to go fight them. This is what that man came to tell me. I will have to go battle against the pirates".

As he expected, tears welled in her eyes and her lips quivered. "Then you're going?" she asked on the verge of crying.

"I have to, my love", he replied and his heart sank when the tears stained her cheeks. "But I'm not going to leave you here alone".

A confused look came over her face and she tilted her head slightly. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is that I'm going to take you to your Uncle Swann", he replied and he turned his body to face her while taking her hands into his much larger ones. "I'm going to take you to him and you're going to live with him and Elizabeth while I'll be fighting. That way, I know you're going to be safe. Is that okay with you?"

Katherine could certainly remember her Uncle. He was her father's cousin and he was a really nice man who would always pamper her as much as her parents did whenever they visited him and his daughter, Elizabeth. And then there was Elizabeth herself. She was older than Katherine by two years and they liked each other very much.

"It's okay", she confirmed with a nod and then giggled when she was swept into her father's arms for a hug.

Jonathan grinned at the excited little girl who was running down to the docks in front of him. Ever since he had told her that they would go to Port Royal in his ship, Katherine was looking forward to traveling in the old but majestic vessel again. Like her father, Katherine had always loved the sea and she would dream of being at the helm of her father's ship with the sails down and the wind blowing her hair back.

Jonathan felt proud when her eyes widened as the ship came into view. He could barely hold back his own grin on seeing the Blue Moon, his most prized possession. His crew was loading the vessel and his first mate, Daniel Philips, came down to greet them. "Hello Captain, Miss Knight", he said with a nod to them.

"Mr. Daniel!" Katherine squealed and she jumped around him. "Can I get on the ship right now?"

"Certainly Miss, but keep out of the crew's way", he cautioned her and he smiled when she sped off on the gangway to board the Blue Moon. He turned back to his Captain who was smiling at his ship.

"How is it going, Mr. Philips?" Jonathan asked casually.

"It's all good, Captain Knight. We'll be done in an hour's time and then we'll be able to set off with the tide which seems to be our favor".

"Let's not waste time, shall we?" the Captain said with a friendly smile and he boarded the vessel.

Katherine was awed by Port Royal. It was much bigger than her hometown and it looked livelier. She nearly got lost among the sailors on the dock as they loaded and unloaded ships, officers of the navy were everywhere and there was a lot of noise and scents that lured her away, but Daniel quickly held her back and Jonathan held her hand as they walked towards a coach where Governor Weatherby Swann and Elizabeth were waiting for them. As they approached the Swanns, Katherine suddenly felt shy and she stood slightly behind her father, peeking from behind his arm.

"Governor Swann", Jonathan greeted and he shook hands with the older man and he gave Elizabeth a slight bow, "Miss Swann".

"Oh, no need to be so formal, Jonathan", Swann replied with a warm smile as his daughter curtsied to the newly arrived Knights. "There's little Katherine! How are you, dear?"

"Fine, thank you", she replied timidly and gave a hesitant bow. She looked up at her father when he placed a hand on top of her head lovingly.

"Weatherby, thank you for accepting to look after Katherine in my absence", he said with a nod to the man.

"Let's go home and we'll talk, Jonathan. Come on", he said and ushered the little group in the coach which left them at the Swann Manor. The Governor led his guests inside while his Butler and another man took up Katherine's trunks up to her new room. "Elizabeth, take Katherine around for a tour, will you?"

"Of course, father", the blonde haired girl replied and she looked at the smaller girl who was still walking behind her father.

The Captain of the Blue Moon looked down at the raven haired girl with a chuckle. "Come on, sweetheart", he encouraged. "Go with Elizabeth while I catch up with your uncle".

Katherine looked up at him with wide eyes.

"It's okay", he assured her. "Don't be shy, now".

Elizabeth smiled at the shy girl and she extended her hand to her. She giggled when Katherine held her hand and the two of them went exploring the house. The two fathers sat in the smaller living room to discuss business and the war that Jonathan had to face. It was not long before they were joined by Lieutenant James Norrington and almost at the same time, the two girls came back with bright smiles. Jonathan was somehow relieved that Katherine was already at ease in her new home.

"Ah, Lieutenant Norrington", Governor Swann greeted and both man stood up. "This is Captain Jonathan Knight and his daughter, Katherine. The young lady will be staying here while Jonathan would be out on his ship".

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Captain Knight, Miss Knight", Norrington replied with a polite smile and he shook hands with the older man and bowed to the girl who had striking greenish blue eyes, like her father, which looked like the sea itself. She curtsied to him and then took her place behind her father with a slight blush on her face. "I have heard of you, Captain", he continued. "The Blue Moon and her Captain have certainly marked their spots in history".

"Thank you, Lieutenant Norrington. Well, it's been a pleasure meeting you all but it's time for me to leave now", Jonathan said and he dared not look at his daughter's face. "It's been over two hours that we docked here and I have to get back for preparations".

"Lieutenant", Weatherby called. "Accompany us to the docks if it's no trouble for you".

"Of course, it's no trouble at all".

Once again, they took the coach and headed back to the docks. Daniel joined them immediately to talk to his Captain and then he bent down to Katherine's level. "I'll see you when we get back, Missus", he said with a gentle smile and he was surprised when she hugged him briefly.

"Be safe, Mr. Daniel", she told him softly and he nodded before heading to the Blue Moon.

Jonathan smiled and he knelt down in front of Katherine, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Katy, I'll be back in a few months. It may take longer depending on the situation but I'll be back. Until then, be a good girl and don't trouble Uncle Weatherby and Elizabeth. Take care of yourself, okay?"

His face fell when her lips trembled and he closed his eyes, unable to see her cry. He gathered her in his arms and he felt her holding on to him tightly.

Governor Swann's heart went out to them. For that moment, Jonathan looked simply like the father he was and not the Captain that everyone knew.

"Come on, my love", Jonathan said soothingly. "I'll be back soon and we'll go home together".

"Promise?" she asked between soft sobs.

"I promise", he confirmed and then pulled away to look at her face. Her nose was bright red, her face was flushed and her eyes still blurry from the tears. "My beautiful and brave little girl", he whispered as he kissed her forehead lovingly. "I love you".

"I love you too, Papa", Katherine whispered back and she wiped the tears away and gave him a watery smile. "Be safe and come back to me soon".

Jonathan managed to give her a smile before letting her go and he was comforted to see that Elizabeth was holding Katherine's hand to comfort her, "Weatherby, Lieutenant Norrington, I need to talk to you both", he said with a heavy heart, and the three men walked out of the girls' earshot.

"Lieutenant, I assume that you are close to the Swanns, right?" He asked.

"Yes, I am", James confirmed with a slight nod.

Jonathan nodded back and then said, "Then please, both of you, look after my daughter. She is my everything and I... I love her so much".

The Governor detected the fear in his eyes and he smiled reassuringly, "Jonathan, don't worry. Katherine is like my own daughter. I love her as much as I love Elizabeth".

"Miss Knight is in good hands, Sir", Norrington added. "She would get used to being here in no time".

"That's true", Knight replied but a worried look came over his face. "However, I would like to warn you that Katy can be... troublesome. She is a good child but after the death of my wife, Nora, she would pull all sorts of dangerous stunts. That's why I'm leaving her here and I want you to always have someone keep an eye on her. She can disappear right from under your nose and you wouldn't know it until you look around for her".

Weatherby was taken aback but he chuckled. "She'll be fine, Captain. Katherine will be well protected", he said firmly.

Jonathan said his thanks and he walked to the gangway but his heart forced him to look back at what he was leaving behind. The sorrow on his daughter's face broke his heart but he forced himself to smile, although it came out strained. He chuckled when she seemed to have similar thoughts and she tried smiling at him. With one last wave to her, he boarded the Blue Moon and began throwing out orders as he stood at the helm with determination in his eyes.

"You'll see her soon, Captain", Daniel said with a smile.

"Let's go get those pirates then, Daniel".

"Aye!"

Back on the docks, the Governor placed a hand on each girl's shoulder. "Let's go home", he said gently.

"I want to wait until they're no more in sight", Katherine said, her eyes not leaving the magnificent ship.

None of them knew that it would be the last time that they would set eyes on the Blue Moon.

Weatherby Swann knocked on the door. "Katherine? Are you still sleeping?" He called out.

No answer.

It was well past eight o'clock and there was still no sign of the girl.

"I'm coming in", he warned and then opened the door. The room was dark with the curtains closed and the lump on the bed indicated that she was still sleeping. "Wake up now. Come on", he called out as he drew the heavy curtains back and the morning light instantly brightened the room. "Kath-"

The man's face fell when he saw cushions peeking out from under the covers. He rubbed his face tiredly and murmured, "That girl would worry me to death".

Just like so many times before, he called the guards and sent them out looking for his niece.

"Father?" Elizabeth called from downstairs and she looked up at the man who came down the stairs with a slightly annoyed look. "What is it?"

"Your dear cousin decided that it would be wise to go out alone again", he replied with a downcast look.

The blonde haired girl heaved a sigh and she went on about her business. Knowing Katherine, she would get back soon safe and sound.

Katherine drew her knees close to her chest and she rested her chin on top as she looked out to the endless sea.

"Not a very effective hiding place".

The girl yelped in surprise and her head snapped towards William Turner who walked towards her with a smirk on his face.

"You scared me!"

"I apologize for that", he replied, not looking sorry at all. He sat next to her crouching form with his legs crossed and waited for her to speak up.

"I don't hide", she told him. "I just like to find somewhere to think".

A strange silence followed.

"It's been eight months already", she then said softly. "My father should have been back by now, don't you think?"

"It all depends on the situation out there", he told her. "There's no way to predict when he would be back".

"I miss him terribly", she confessed and her voice cracked. "Whenever he would go out at sea, my mother and I kept each other's hopes up. After she passed away, Papa limited the time he would spend out. Sometimes he would take me aboard the Blue Moon together with him just so I would not be left alone. But this time, he's taking too long".

Will awkwardly placed an arm around her shoulders as comfort. "He'll be back", he told her.

A few moments later, Katherine stood up and she dusted her dress. "Time to head back", she told the older boy and the two of them went their separate ways. The raven haired girl strolled back in her temporary home, preparing herself to hear from her uncle for having run off again.

Later on that day, Elizabeth, her father and her cousin were out in the gardens where she was reading to them. The Governor was seated on a stone bench while the two girls were lying down on the grass; Elizabeth on her belly with her elbows propping her up, and Katherine was lying on her back with her eyes closed and a smile dancing on her lips as she listened to her best friend reading. However, the sound of hurried footsteps caught her attention and she opened her eyes, finding an officer of the navy who she immediately recognized. It was Groves and the look on his face had her sitting up with worry. Elizabeth too sat up with a similar expression.

"Good afternoon, Governor Swann, ladies", he greeted hurriedly. "There is a battleship of the EITC approaching the port and we have reasons to believe that it might be the Blue Moon".

In the blink of an eye, Katherine was already on her feet. "I'm getting the coach", she said and then sped out of sight.

The Governor gaped and he could only wait until the coach arrived with Katherine already inside. Groves went together with the Swanns and the daughter of Knight and they reached the docks in no time. The raven haired girl jumped out of the transport and she ran all the way down but arms caught her before she could get any closer to the water.

"Katherine, please wait here", James Norrington said. "The ship is coming this way. You'll see it". He waited until she nodded to release her and they were joined by the Governor and Elizabeth with Groves close behind them.

"That's not the Blue Moon", Katherine declared barely a minute later and she turned her tearful gaze to the Lieutenant standing on her right.

"It's too far for us to confirm that yet", he said firmly.

"That's not the Blue Moon!" She repeated louder and with anger. Several people turned in her direction but she paid them no mind. "I have been on that ship countless times and I know it by heart both on the inside and the outside. I can say for certain that this is some other ship and not my father's!"

"Sir, she's right", an Officer confirmed as he lowered his spyglass. "This is The Northern Wind".

Norrington silently looked at the approaching ship with his hands behind his back. Next to him, the Governor placed a comforting hand on Katherine's shoulder while Elizabeth held his other hand.

They waited for The Northern Wind to throw its anchor and one of the crewmen took out the gangplank. Several men poured out of the floating vessel and a heavy feeling settled itself in the Governor's stomach when he took notice of the grieving expressions. In front of him, Katherine paled considerably. She recognized some of the men as those who were part of the Blue Moon's crew. Her legs refused to move and she feared that if she did move them, they would buckle under her. She managed to catch one man's eyes and she immediately called, "Mr. Townsend!"

Norrington and the Governor exchanged a knowing look as realization came upon them.

The disheveled man approached them with a slow bow and clutching a cloth bag close to him. He was followed by several other men and Katherine knew every one of their faces. "What are you doing on this ship?" She asked with a shocked look. "Where's the Blue Moon and the rest of the crew? And where's my father?"

"Miss Knight", he started with an unstable voice but he could not get any other words out.

"Katherine dear", Weatherby called worriedly. "I think it would be best to let those men rest for a bit before-"

He stopped talking when she threw him a dark look which took him aback.

"Mr. Townsend, please tell me", she asked and her voice cracked. She felt Elizabeth taking her hand into hers but nothing could ease her mind.

"The Blue Moon sank in the last fight", he told her with his gaze lowered to the ground. "She fought like a beast and she took down most of the enemy ships. She spared no one as she lashed out like a terrible monster".

Katherine was frozen from the shock. The most powerful ship she knew had been taken down. The ship that belonged to her father.

"M-My father?"

"The Captain and the rest of the crew went down with the Blue Moon".

Elizabeth gasped and she stumbled back from the shock. Her father stood frozen and Lieutenant Norrington kept a careful eye on the raven haired girl next to him.

Katherine felt her mouth go dry and it suddenly became very difficult to swallow. Her mind was numb while her heart tore in her chest. Her father was one of the best Captains ever! He could not have gone down and neither could the Blue Moon. Both were strong and were exceptional at fighting. And Daniel, too. He was one of the most fearless man on that ship! They could not have died.

"You're lying", she said with a shaking voice. "Papa is not… He will be back".

"This is the truth", Townsend replied with a shake of his head and he knelt down, opening the cloth carrying a few items. "The rest of us managed to retrieve a few of his things before everything was swallowed by the ocean".

Katherine fell to her knees when she recognized the three-cornered hat, the spyglass, the ring and the dagger.

It all belonged to Jonathan Knight.

Her shaking hand skimmed over the hat but she retracted her hand as if it burnt her.

"Captain Knight died as an honorable man", another one of the crew said. "He stayed strong until the end and-"

He broke off when Katherine lowered her head as she cried. Her tears rapidly stained her dress and the sobs rocked her whole body. Governor Swann lowered his head in grief and Elizabeth hid her tear-stained face into her hands. The Lieutenant nodded to the crew as thanks and he dismissed them before kneeling down to the small girl.

"Katherine, you should head back-"

He stopped when she suddenly jumped to her feet, bunched her skirt up and ran off through the crowd that had gathered.

"Katherine!" Governor Swann called out in panic and he immediately turned to James. "Lieutenant Norrington, please send someone after her!"

"I'll be going myself", the younger man said. "Please head back and let me take care of things here".

Katherine stumbled several times but nothing could stop her. Her feet carried her to the beach and her legs buckled as soon as she was on the soft sand. Her chest heaved as she screamed and cried, and her hands gripping her hair, pulling it out of the pins as it tumbled down her back in curly waves. She barely noticed James as he sat next to her silently.

He waited for her to calm down until her cries were reduced to mere hiccups. She lied down on the sand with a tired but grieving look, her eyes not leaving the slowly darkening sky.

"I want to go home", she managed to say in a weak voice. She closed her eyes and was not even aware that James had picked her up in his arms and carried her back to the Swann Manor.

There you go, darlings! Please tell me how it was. It was only the introduction, so, next chapter would be in line with the first movie.

~IcedLady~