Hey Everyone! I just thought up this idea while watching America's Most Wanted and I had to put it up. I'll write more, I should be working on my other fics but what are u gonna do, eh? I hope u like it and I know where it's going already. Thanx!

-I don't own POTC but I wish I did. LOL

Chapter One: Ghost Ship

Elizabeth Swann walked swiftly across the dirt road and through a wooden gate that lined the small field. Green grass surrounded small stunted trees and the cliff over looking the water was shimmering in the afternoon light. Waves lapped the golden beach as small black shapes moved crates onto ships. It was the perfect day.

Ahead was a sunbathed dirt path, weaved in and out of the grass. She had walked this way everyday for two months and knew where she was going so well she could walk it in the dark.

She entered a small forest near the edge of the cliff and wended her way between spiky bushes and stringy grass. Her dress snagged on an overhanging branch for a moment but she disentangled herself and continued on. When she reached a small clearing overlooking the bay she smiled.

Will Turner, the love of her life, sat underneath a large tree, one leg pulled up the his chest, the other straight out in front of him. His head was back, eyes closed against the glare of the sunlight dancing on the water, a smile on his face.

Elizabeth stood there for a moment and watched him, her own smile tugging at her mouth. He was so handsome, curly brown hair pulled back in a tail at the base of his skull. She couldn't believe she was fortunate enough to be with him, and soon marrying him.

She crossed the clearing and sat down beside him, sweeping her long white dress out around her on the faded green blanket. Will smiled but didn't open his eyes. "I didn't think you'd ever come." He said, finally cracking an eye open to watch her. Elizabeth smiled.

"Would I ever miss it?" Will shrugged and pulled himself away from the tree and Elizabeth peeked into the basket beside him. It was full of fruit and nothing else.

"No sandwiches today?" She asked. Will shook his head and reached behind him, pulling out a blue bottle and two glasses. Elizabeth knew better to think it was wine and watched him closely with a raised eyebrow.

"It's water, pretend its wine." He said, glaring at the bottle for a minute. "I couldn't…"

"It's perfect." Elizabeth said, lowering his hand and leaning in. She kissed him tenderly and then reached into the basket. The fruit inside was excellent, but not as lovely as their conversation.

They chatted about the coming wedding and the future, and finally their theories on what Jack was up to.

"I heard a story about him going back to Britain." Will said. Will shook his head and watched the water in the bay. Elizabeth followed his gaze and saw the Dauntless was still not back.

"Do you think they'll catch him?" She asked. Will shook his head and grabbed her hand, squeezing it gently.

"No. They'll never catch him." Will smiled. "Never." Elizabeth smiled back and watched the bay for a moment longer before looking back down at her engagement ring. It glowed white in the sun. In a week they would be married. She giggled and he looked over at her. "What?"

"Nothing." Elizabeth laughed, hiding her face with her hand. Will grabbed her and shoved her onto the blanket, making her laugh harder. He kissed her again and her laughter died. Soon, they would be together forever and nothing would stop that. Nothing…

James Norrington stood at the wheel beside his helm's man, eyes scanning the crystalline water around him. He'd been searching for Jack Sparrow day and night but only half-heartedly. He'd grown a new respect for the pirate captain and that sickened him.

Gillette was at the other end of the ship, a telescope scanning the water ahead of the ship. Norrington sighed resignedly. Another day, another bust. He was just thinking of going below when a yell from Gillette drew his cabin from his mind.

"The Pearl!" He screamed, looking back excitedly. Everyone on deck stopped what they were doing and watched Gillette with baited breath. "She's there!"

Norrington rushed across the deck at a fast walk and took the telescope from Gillette, staring through it. At first he saw nothing but as he scanned the water he was met by a small dot on the horizon. It looked like the Pearl but he wasn't sure. It could be a merchant ship.

He ordered the men to get ready to meet up with them. He knew not to put anything against Sparrow and his crew. They neared the Pearl quickly, with full wind behind them but it wasn't fast enough for Norrington. He could make out the Pearl's sails and see the deck clearly. There was no movement on board, the sails were up and the ship listed slightly to the left. Other then that, it looked fine. Where was the crew.

Expecting a trap, Norrington lined up his men and gave them hurried instructions before going back to the bow as the Dauntless leveled up with the Black Pearl.

She was silent. There was no one above deck and no disturbance. It looked as though the whole crew had simply gone below. Norrington's sharp eyes swept the lower deck's portholes but there was nothing. The black paint glistened on it's sides and the sails undulated in the wind, creaking the cables.

They laid down planks and hooks to keep the ship close and his armed men passed over first, searching the deck. When all was clear above, they began moving below. There was nothing, no one was on board. The Navy searched in every nook and cranny. It was a ghost ship.

"There is no one on the ship, sir." Gillette reported. Norrington glared at the ship as though there was some hidden and dirty secret he'd overlooked. "She'd dead, a small hole in the side but it can be patched up well enough. There are rowboats everywhere so they didn't desert."

"What about the Captain's cabin?" Norrington asked. Gillette shook his head.

"No sir, no one in there. The bed is empty and messy, like Sparrow had got up and left. Clothes scattered on the floor and a few plates on the table. A candle on the night table had burned out, it was lit for a while." Norrington pulled his coat closer to himself and crossed the plank onto the ship.

It had a deserted and cold feel but he ignored it and moved across the deck and into Sparrow's cabin. It was dark inside and dirty. Rum bottles littered the floor near the bed and door. He kicked them away and moved to the cabinet in the corner. A rum bottle fell out and hit the floor near his feet, smashing over his shiny black boots and onto his pants. He grimaced and closed the door, moving to the dresser.

Rifling through the drawers, he found almost nothing except a few bandanas, shirts, pants and a aged paper with a untidy scrawl on it. Norrington read a few lines and threw it into the drawer, slamming the drawer with a snap.

The table was littered with maps, bottles of ink and quills. Norrington rifled through them and finally gave up. There was nothing important there. He was just about to go when his hand accidentally hit a small inkbottle and it rolled across the table and off the side, hitting the wooden floor and smashing across the hard wood. Bending down to wipe ink off his already dirtied boots, Norrington noticed a folded piece of ripped parchment on the ground, under the table. He grabbed it and ripped it open.

Loopy letters spelled out…

"Help me." Norrington whispered, flipping the letter over. There was nothing on the other side. He handed it to Gillette and looked around the room again. There was nothing else of interest.

"'Help me'?" Gillette asked, looking up. "Was this Sparrow?" Norrington shook his head. "Are you sure?"

"No. I'm not sure if he can read let alone write." He looked around and took the paper from his first officer. Running a finger over the words, he folded the letter again and pushed it into his pocket. "Send men over to the Black Pearl and get her ready to move. We're taking her back to Port Royal."

Gillette looked haunted for a moment. "Sir, we don't know what happened to them. There's no blood, no bodies…not evidence that anything happened. The men won't want to…" Norrington looked at him sharply. Gillette saluted. "Yes sir." She walked off, closing the cabin door behind him. Norrington took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. What had happened here? Where were Sparrow and his crew? How would he tell Elizabeth?