"Are we going after that ship Barbosa?" Benjamin asked with excitement. He was twelve years old and already used to the hard life of a pirate. His small body leaned out over the water, dangling haphazardly over the drop.

"Aye my boy", captain Barbosa grinned as he watched the English merchant ship get closer. He patted Jim on the head, ignoring Jim's displeased snarl. "We are looking for a child, around your age. Keep an eye out for him Alright".

Jim nodded, grinning in excitement at the fight to come. The black pearl, the fastest ship on the seas, soon caught up with the merchant ship, pulling alongside. As soon as they were close enough, the crew swung from the ropes and onto the deck. Jim followed, swinging easily onto the main deck, his dagger in hand. Using his small frame to his advantage, he weaved in between the fighting crews and slipped down into the hold. Footsteps sounded and he ducked behind a barrel as four more of the merchant crew ran past. Once they were gone, he left his hiding place and continued through the ship. This was easy.

"You! Pirate scum!" A voice shouted. Jim whirled around to see a large man pointing a sword at him. The man charged, sweeping his sword around. Jim ducked under the blade and stepped in close enough to drive his dagger up and under the man's ribs. The man coughed, blood seeping out of his mouth. Jim withdrew his blade and stepped back just as the body collapsed to the floor.

Jim wiped his bloody blade on the dead man's shirt calmly. This was not the first time he's killed a man. A small noise distracted him. A muffled gasp. Standing straight, Jim glanced around the room. "Come out and I won't kill you", he growled, looking rather menacing for a twelve year old. There was a small scuffled and Jim directed his gaze to a pile of wooden crates in the corner. Silently he snuck closer before leaping around them with a furious inhuman snarl.

A boy, about the same age, yelled in surprise as Jim thrust the point of his dagger at his neck. "One move and I'll slit your pretty throat", Jim warned, speaking just like he heard Barbosa do. The boy swallowed, eyes wide with fear. Jim studied him for a minute. The boy had big brown eyes and badly cut brown hair. "What's your name?"

"Um Will, Will Turner", the boy, Will, gasped. Jim thought for a moment before stuffing his dagger back in his belt.

"It's your lucky day Will", he grinned. "I'm going to help you escape".

"What?" Will gasped in surprise as Jim pulled him to his feet by his shirt.

"I'm trying to help you escape you simpleton", Jim spoke slowly. "Now where's the gunpowder kept?"

Will lead him through the ship and deep into the hold. The gunpowder was stored in a dark room, no candle light allowed inside. Jim opened the door and smiled evilly. Crossing to the nearest barrel, he took off his coat and tucked the material into a bag shape. Popping off the lid, he scooped handfuls of the black powder into his coat until it was as full as it could be.

"What are you doing?" Will asked nervously. Upstairs, the battle still raged. They could here it echoing around the belly of the ship. Jim grinned and started pouring a trail of gunpowder out of the door. Will followed him nervously as Jim made his way back through the ship. Once the gunpowder ran out, Jim stopped.

They were on the canon deck. Through the canon holes, the two boys could see the screaming bodies of various crew members as they plunged into the water below. Jim glanced around and smirked when he spotted a lamp hanging on a beam.
"Will, pass me that lamp will you?"

"No", Will did not move. Jim scowled at him. "Not until you tell me your name and what you're doing".

"It's Jim. Ben Jim. And I'm going to blow up the ship". Jim stomped over to where the candle was hanging but Will stopped him.

"You can't blow up the ship. It will kill everyone!" Will protested, standing in front of Jim.

"The crew of this ship will die anyway", Jim snarled. There was a flash of pointy teeth from between his lips and Will flinched. "And the crew of the black pearl can't be killed. It's the only way either of us will get out of this alive. So move!"

A harsh shove sent Will tumbling to the floor. Refusing to give up, Will turned and tackled Jim's legs. Jim fell, face colliding against bucket which rolled away with a clang. With a shouted curse, the two boys rolled across the floor. Jim pushed Will down beneath him, straddling his waist, and knocked him out with a punch to the face.

"Barstard", Jim muttered as he wiped the blood off his cheek. The impact with a bucket had cut open his cheek and it bled freely. It was definitely going to scar. With some effort, he dragged Will's limp body over to the nearest hatch. Unhooking the lamp, he took out the burning candle and cut it so it was only a few centimetres high and stuck it to the floor next to the line of gunpowder. It would burn down within the next few minutes, setting light to the gunpowder. Then they would have about about a minute before the ship exploded.

Slinging Will over his shoulders, Jim began to carry him up and on to the main deck. The battle was still in full swing. Smoke and blood filled the air as people screamed. Avoiding attention, Jim began to lug them both over to the side of the ship. Kicking off his boots, he ducked under a sword as it was swung at a pirate next to him. The blood splattered his shirt.

"Jim!" A voice roared. Jim turned and saw Barbosa watching him over the fighting. The captain was stood at the helm and he waved at Jim. "Come here boy! You're going to get yourself killed standing there!"

Jim breathed a sigh of relief. Barbosa had not seen Will, who was partially hid behind him. He waved back at Barbosa Just was two men fell against the railing next to him. Jim pretended to stumble, using the shock of the impact to make it look as if they had pushed him overboard, and jumped off the boat with Will.

They landed with a humongous splash. Jim was glad that he had taken off his boots as he let his hands and feet transform. Scales grew down his legs as skin formed around each of his feet, turning them into flipper like things. Skin grew between his fingers, giving them a webbed appearance. A sharp pain laced across his neck as his gills opened. He took a deep breath in relief.

The sudden shock of the cold water had woken Will up. He flailed, struggling in Jim's hold. His eyes widened as he took in Jim's appearance. "What are you?" He gasped as soon as they broke the surface.

"Your saviour", Jim growled as he swan them away from the ship. "Stop hawking and start swimming".

"Are you a monster?" Will whimpered. He swallowed some seawater which sent him into a coughing fit.

"Less talking, more swimming", Jim commanded as he hauled Will through the water.

They were about fifty feet from the ship when it exploded. Jim pushed them both underwater as pieces of wood rained down around them. The remains of the ship lay scattered amongst the waves, some on fire.

The two boys surfaced. The shock of the explosion had caused Will to pass out and he floated limply in Jim's arms. Spotting a large floating piece of wood nearby, Jim swam over and lifted Will onto it. He clung to the other side, panting. Dimly, he watched as the black pearl vanished into the sudden mist that was rolling in.

Turning away from the burning wreckage of the merchant ship, Jim started pushing the makeshift raft though the sea. This route was a popularity trade route and Jim just had to hope that another ship would pass by.

As luck would have it, not half an hour later, a ship displaying the English flag looked out of the mist. As the ship came closer, shouts were heard as the two boys were noticed. Jim willed himself to transform back as the raft got closer to the small boat tethered to the side of the vessel. His fins reverted back to feet and his gills closed up, leaving only faint lines.

The men, soldiers according to their uniform, picked Will up first, passing his limp body up onto deck. Then Jim was lifted out of the water. He tried to act traumatised and scared. One of the men patted him on the back as he was brought on deck. "It's alright, you and your friend are safe now son".

He was wrapped in a blanket and sat on a table alongside Will, who was still unconscious. A girl approached them. She was their age and dressed in fine clothing. Her brown hair was neatly curled and she stared at the two boys in fascination. "Daddy says you're in my care. What's your name?"

Jim didn't like her. "Ben Jim", he replied, using the same fake name he gave Will. He found that it was always easier to give names that sounded similar to his own. "But you can just call me Jim".

"My name is Elizabeth Swan", the girl replied. "Who is he?" She pointed at Will.

"Him?" Jim gave Will a disdainful look. "He's Will Turner". Elizabeth stepped closer to Will, observing his face. Jim rolled his eyes. Girls.

At that moment, a man who seemed to be of high status approached Jim. "My name is lieutenant Norrington. Would you care to come with me and explain what happened? Your friend will be left in the company of Miss Swan".

"She'll take good care of him", a man, obviously a lord or something as he was dressed incredibly finely, smile reassuringly. Jim was mentally trying to calculate how much the guy's clothes were worth. Distracted, he nodded and allowed Norrington to lead him below deck, leaving Will with Elizabeth Swan.

When the governors boat docked in port Royal, Jim disappeared. So did the Governor's favourite clothes and many pieces of jewellery along with a fisherman's boat.

Unedited