Swordplay

Disclaimer: I do not own Jack Sparrow (regrettably) or any other Pirates of the Caribbean characters mentioned hereinafter. They are the property of The Walt Disney Company© and serve to bring no profit to me. I do, however, own Meryl, Morgan, Amber, Aletté, Emmaleanna, Liam, and all other characters of my own creation- go me!

***

Hey, this is a sequel to the diary of Morgan Land, but if you read it, you'll see that it can stand alone and you'll still know what's going on. Please review!

-SQ

***

Summary: This story revolves around a few central characters- namely Meryl Volleys (an ex-prostitute who has a score to settle with Jack) Morgan Land (completely head-over-heels in love with Jack, but also the kidnapped daughter of a powerful aristocrat) Emmaleanna Sparrow (Jack's dark, vengeful younger sister) Aletté Malycho (an adventure-seeking barmaid from Singapore who has eyes for Will Turner) and Amber NiMurrough (a widow at nineteen who was betrayed by Jack and consequently wasted a year of her life waiting for him, a.k.a. she hates his stinking guts). There are, of course, several other characters (Liam, Temeano, the assassin, Anamaria, Elizabeth, to name most of them) and a lot of Jack and Will.

This is by no means a slash fanfic, and I would never put anything of that genre into my stories. This is also probably the farthest thing from a Mary-Sue you'll ever read (okay, not the farthest, but pretty damn close.)

If you've read to the end of this summary, I commend you. *claps* Bravo! Now, on with the story!

***

Chapter One:

Morgan's dark curls lay strewn across her face as she slept. Jack ruffled her hair lightly, while adjusting his red bandanna. He had been thinking a lot, lately, about Meryl. About how much Morgan reminded him of her. That was probably what attracted him to her in the first place; her dark hair was identical to Meryls, as he recalled it, though the latter was taller than Morgan.

The sun's rays were spilling out over the horizon as the dawn played itself into day. He shrugged into his jacket, climbed the steps up to the deck and across to the dining room. His hand had barely touched the knob when a thin, pale ribbon of piercing steel moved into a position silently poised at level with his eyes. He stared at it for a moment, then followed the blade to the hilt, where it was gripped by a feminine, long-fingered, dainty hand. He recognized the hand as he slowly let his eyes drift up to face his opponent.

Meryl.

"Never alone, are you, Jack?" She said, stepping back two paces and giving him a chance to draw his sword. "I've been watching you for days, now. Always seems to be someone with you. Except," She paused. "today."

He smiled. "So you meant what you said, then? About coming back?" He unsheathed his blade and held it level to hers. "I'm still not sure if this is such a fair fight, luv." He moved to strike, but she parried his blade with hers in one seemingly effortless movement.

She smiled wryly. "I've practised, Captain. I put all your payment to good use. And I told you I would come back." She paused. "I keep my word."

The blades flashed off each other in three quick movements, like breakers as they roll and dance in the sun. Meryl smiled, a few strands of hair escaping the knot that held back her ebony mane. Jack lowered his sword patronizingly.

"There now, luv, you've gotten your fair fight. But you don't want to be beaten, aye?" He smiled devilishly. "Stand down."

The sunlight danced off the blade of Meryl's sword, casting reflections off her salt-stained blouse that spilled over her sun-weathered yet still beautiful face. "Only cowards stand down, Jack." They parried. "I'm not through with you yet."

In a flurry of movements and a clash of metal-on-metal, she matched his every move as if she knew what was coming and had studied in advance just how to roll with it. It became a dance, every changing movement a mix of skill and instinct. Then, as if a ceasefire had been drawn silently between them, both Jack and Meryl lowered their blades.

"Miss me?" Meryl asked, gasping for breath.

Jack smiled, equally winded. "More than you know."

***

Okay, see that button down there in the bottom left corner of the screen? Just click there and I'll be eternally happy.

-SQ