I was about three hours out by the looks of it. It's a good thing I brought my telescope. I looked back in the direction of the Black Pearl, then shook my head and turned to the sea and sky. For now there weren't any complications with the weather, so it should be easy sailing. I opened the sail and pointed it in the direction of the wind. I pulled out my compass. I was heading south-west. I sat down. But when I sat down heard something fall out of my pocket. It was muffled but It was still loud enough to hear. I picked it up. It was Jacks arm fabric and the broken compass I found back at the infirmary. I placed my hand on my necklace and held it tightly. The enraged half of me wanted to rip it off and chuck it into the never ending sea. But the reasonable half of me convinced me that I still loved Jack and would never do that. After all I had made a promise. I made a compromise and took it off and stuffed it into my satchel. I didn't want to think about the promise I made to Jack, right now. I looked back at the objects laying in the belly of the boat. I picked them up. I rubbed Jacks arm fabric on my cheek. Soft... But still reeked of rum and Jack. I smirked a bit and tied it to the butt end of my sword. I'd come back to it later. I compared my compass to the broken one. I could turn in a circle and my compass would always point to the north. But this one... It didn't point in any particular direction... It just kind of ... Shook then settled, then shook then settled, over and over again.  I slumped over in defeat and rolled the broken compass in my hand in curiosity.
"What are you?" I asked aloud, as if the compass could speak, and was just waiting to burst out with and answer.  I closed both compasses and stuffed one in either pocket of my coat. It was boring sailing alone... Maybe that's why all fishermen bring seacats with them, or why pirates have a crew. Because it's lonely sailing by your lonesome. I placed my chin on my palm and my elbow on my thigh, then sighed. I don't like being alone. I looked out at the sea again. At least I know that the sea will always be there for me to sail endlessly. I continued starring at the sea until something caught my eye. A fin of a shark perhaps. Or a dolphin. Please be a dolphin. I grabbed my telescope and walked to the front. I saw it again and looked at it through my telescope. It was definitely a fin. But it was more scaly then it was slick. But nothing has scaled fins except... I gulped. Mermaids. Please be a shark, please be a shark. It was coming closer. I put down my telescope and stumbled backwards over a bench. I then hit my head on the bench I was sitting on. I rubbed my head and picked up my hat that I knocked off during the fall. I slowly came up and was face to face with a girl. I shrieked and fell backwards and pushed myself up against the opposing side of the girl. She laughed at me and just stared at me I gulped and drew in breath heavily.  I looked up and saw three other girls. I shrieked again and fell over the bench where I was sitting. Thankfully I fell in a bunch of rope. The four laughed at my actions as I struggled to untangle myself from the rope. One of the younger girls made her way over to me and helped me get out of the rope. I was shocked.
"You... You didn't eat me..." I stated, fearfully.
"You're a girl, we can't eat you, you could come back as one of us" she announced, as if I should have known.
"Oh..." I commented. I looked at the others and they nodded.  I rubbed my neck.
"Sorry I jumped... I'm easily frightened... I'm Sapphire, but you can call me what ever you'd like" I announced putting my hand out to shank their hands. They hissed and I quickly redrew my hand. "Okay... I guess hand shaking is out... How do you greet each other?" I asked. They looked at each other and shrugged.

"We typically wave our tails" one commented. I bit my lip.

"I don't have a tail..." I announced. They laughed.

"We didn't expect you to." Another replied.

"Alright..." I stated. I sat there awkwardly.

"So where are you going?" The younger mermaid asked.

"Away..." I stated.

"Away from what?" She asked.

"Away from someone that I'm not exactly on the best terms with at the moment" I replied. They nodded.

"We have that same problem with pirates" one of the older mermaids stated. I smiled.

"So I've been told" I replied. They looked at me in confusion.

"You are running from pirates too?"
I nodded.

"Well... One in particular... Ever heard of Captain Jack Sparrow?" I asked checking my compass. When I looked up they had settled themselves on the edge of the boat, head on arms, waiting for me to tell them my story. I sighed.
"Well... It all began about... A month or so ago..." I began.
*****************************************************

"And so... I decided that I'd find my parents... Surely they'd tell me." I fished my long story. The mermaids looked at me wide eyed.

"Captain Jack Sparrow really said he loved you?" One of the older mermaids asked, with a giggle. I nodded, becoming red in the face from the memory.

"He's said it quite a few times actually... But the first time he admitted it, he was drunk out of his mind" I replied, laughing at the memory.

"How do you know your parents are still alive?" The younger one asked. I shrugged.

"I don't... I'm honestly just hanging on to the last strings of hope I have left..." I stated. They looked at each other. The younger one jumped into the boat and gave me a hug, then quickly dove over the side. I smiled. "I don't know why everyone hates mermaids, you girls are really pretty and make for great company." I announced. They smiled.

"Not bad yourself" an older one replied.  I laughed.

"You don't know the half of it" I commented. A small port in the distance caught my eye. "You girls are awfully close to shore, will you be safe?" I asked.

"We are still alive aren't we?"
I nodded.

"Touché" I replied. "I never did learn your names" I commented.

"I'm Coral, that's Lillysnap, over there is Bluebell and the youngest is Seafoam." Coral announced. I nodded.

"Pretty names" I stated.

"You'll be our friend, right?" Seafoam asked. I nodded.

"Wouldn't be much of a friend if I said no would I?" I asked. Seafoam smiled. She dove under the boat and surfaced a few moments later.

"Come here real quick" Seafoam stated. I walked over slowly , not wanting to tip the girls off the boat by a sudden movement. When I got to Seafoam, she placed a necklace around my neck. It had a conch shell covered in moss. "It's so you can call us when you feel lonely or when you're in danger, just blow here, it will blow three bubbles, by the time the third pops, we will be where you are. If it's really bad blow it twice, we'll be there with back up." Seafoam explained. I smiled and nodded. I hugged the mermaid.

"Who knows, maybe we'll meet again before a time comes when I'm lonely or in danger." I announced. The four nodded. And just like that, they were off. And I was alone again. But I was sure to find some new friends once I docked. Hopefully.