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To her, the captain sounded much in love with his ship that she felt guilty for suggesting a new one. It dawned on her that the Black Pearl was not to be replaced, perhaps for a moment, but in the end this captain had to have his Pearl. It really must have been a magnificent ship.

"And you can't get her back, your Pearl?" It sounded silly out loud. If he could get it back he would probably be trying, not walking about talking to her. Again, not knowing about ships seemed to be hindering her. It seemed cruel to think he would just have to be a shipless captain for life. "I hope you can get her back someday, Captain. She sounds like a lovely ship and she should belong to someone who loves her as much as you." Her words were genuine even if it sounded quite odd to be talking about a ship like a person and thinking of a ship as a person left a bad taste in her mouth because she wasn't sure belonging to someone was right.

Oh dear. She supposed she couldn't avoid talking about herself after she'd asked him to open up to her. It wouldn't have been fair. She wasn't sure how to go about it though. There was a kingdom out there that she should've been groomed to rule alongside Phillip but she couldn't be sure where it was. She wasn't even sure if Phillip was alive, though she wanted him to be. Her face twisted, she hated the sound of hooves darting through her memory.

"No, but it's out there somewhere. I've no idea where it is or how to get back," she told him softly. Did she dare admit that sometimes she wasn't sure she wanted to? Of course she wanted to see her family again but being Princess Aurora after being just Briar Rose was so overwhelming. And here, while she was still a princess, she wasn't pressed into a mold that she was supposed to fill. No one, not even Phillip, seemed to understand how hard it was to be Aurora when all she knew was to be Rose.

"We are quite a pair aren't we, Jack? A captain without a ship and a princess without a kingdom?" she teased lightly, a sparkle of play entering her eyes and making them vibrant blue instead of dull ocean. She smiled, it was almost like they were made to be friends.

She tilted her head, the answer seemed to vary depending on the day, and for now the answer was a little of each. She could, she supposed, look for her kingdom and yet it didn't seem likely that she would. At least not in the sense of seeking it out, she was more likely to remember it and hope that one day she might remember how to get there. Besides, a little of her still had faith that Phillip might swoop in to rescue her before it turned to thinking of how nice it would be just to be Rose.

"It's quite nice here, I did meet you after all," she paused, looking down at Scupper'd, "and you."

It was odd how easily she could confide in him. How easily she could just slip into talking with what would have otherwise been a stranger. She wouldn't have been allowed to do that had she been home. She had a feeling Jack wouldn't have been allowed to ever lay eyes on her, let alone talk to her. The fairies wouldn't have allowed it had she been at the Woodcutter's Cottage; and her parents and betrothed would have made sure he stayed far, far away because that's what they did. They meant well but they had always made sure she was safe and safe meant alone.

"One day, I may look but for now...for now it's, rather lovely to be free," she admitted. She wasn't entirely sure he would understand but she didn't think he'd laugh. Phillip would have, she thought, not cruelly but he wouldn't know what she was talking about. They were so different, Jack and Phillip, like night and day.

"You know, I'm not sure Phillip would like you..." she trailed off, seemingly caught in seeing a ghost. Oh, she shouldn't have said that. Her face seemed both deathly cold and heatedly flushed. She didn't dare look at Jack, why in the world had she said that? It was true enough but, there was no reason at all to talk about... She frowned, terrified of what he might ask. And she did not want to answer him.

Aurora watched as Scupper'd bowed before going to tuck the bag away. She had the urge to accompany the pup, feeling quite uncomfortable with the prospect of-

"And who is thi' freedom stealin' scoundrel, Princess? Y'hero?"

She fought the urge to joke, instead shaking her head gently. Her golden curls fell over her shoulders as she held her head up, eyes looking to the sky, trying to regain some composure. The small catch of breath in her throat was more from shock than wanting to cry but it didn't stop her from blinking away a over eager tear.

"No, not my hero. He was my betrothed, my prince." It came out clipped, not in anger, but in left over sadness that had yet to be dealt with. After all he had been her first friend in sixteen years and then he was gone.

She let out a shaky breath, this wasn't how she wanted Jack to see her. It was too late now though. "I'm not even sure he's alive, Jack. The last I saw him, he told me to run and I did and-" she shook her head, swallowed hard. It was one thing to want to be free, it was quite another to realize that she might not have anyone wanting to keep her safe if she returned. It was perhaps fear of not finding them to greet her that kept her from truly seeking out her kingdom.

Inhale, she opened her eyes. "I'm sure he's fine. He should be released and left to find another princess. Or a peasant girl, should he be able to find one," the way she said it made it quite obvious that her story was not quite as simple as she wanted him to believe. And she was tempted to tell him, she had been a peasant once and find out just what he would think of her then.

But she didn't. She found herself unable to think of anything else to say. So she waited, she seemed to do a lot of that in her life.

She gave a wavering laugh, a hint of a hidden sniffle, and gave a smile. She was grateful for his words and for a moment she dared to think he was right. She even moved forward and thought about hugging him in thanks but drew back, thinking it might be too awkward.

"Thank you, Jack," seemed all she could manage to say. She wanted to say more, it meant so much to hear him say that Phillip would be looking for her, but she couldn't seem to find any words. So she settled back, just focusing on breathing as her thoughts and emotions returned to calmness. She could worry about her betrothed in private.

When she found herself ready to speak again, she turned her head towards him. "You're a good friend." It didn't seem like enough. She wanted him to know how much it meant to her, that he was her friend, something that could be used to prove they were friends if the need ever arose. She nodded her head, reaching her paws behind her necklace and untangling the necklace she'd worn since becoming a Princess.

The gold glittered as though it had been newly polished. "I-I want you to have this, Jack. As a token of my friendship. That way no one will be able to say we aren't, as long as you have it," slipped out of her mouth before she had time to think of a more grand way to say it. She flushed lightly, a tinge of pink, as she held her paws out to him with the necklace gleaming in her paws.

At first, she was afraid he wasn't going to accept it. Her stomach tightened, a ball of tension forcing her to hold her breath, until he spoke but the tension only lessened slightly. The way his paw seemed to reach out in slow motion, eyes dark and watching, touching it as though she might suddenly change her mind and take it away.

She opened her mouth to tell him she needed nothing in return but when he beckoned her wait, she watched with curiosity. At first she thought with some bemusement that he was going to offer her his hat or his the cloth about his head not realizing he hid treasure and trinkets there.

Watching him fumble and finally pull the medallion free, she was filled with honor that he would trust her with something of his. She couldn't fathom this male not having friends so she really had no idea what her gift meant to him, only hoping that it meant as much as his did to her. Because a friend had never given her anything before. All of her gifts had come from the fairies, whom she still thought of as her aunts.

"It's beautiful Jack. I'll treasure it always." She smiled, brilliantly, growing aware that she seemed to do it an awful lot since having met him. She allowed the necklace to rest in one paw, reaching out one and allowing one of her digit's pads to rub over it. And without thinking, she laughed and threw herself forward to hug him, one paw holding tight to the necklace and one paw holding tightly, tighter, to him.

Scupper'd's voice brought Aurora back to her senses, instead of how nice it felt to be hugged even if awkwardly, and she blushed faintly. Of course he hadn't seen anything, nothing was going on except a hug. And hugs were perfectly fine. Still she felt the warmth on her cheeks as a warning of sorts. Perhaps it wasn't entirely proper.

With a smile, she pulled herself from Jack and turned to face the pup. She tried not to laugh as the captain teased him about stealing her but she couldn't help smiling when he started rattling off how he didn't like her but did. She laughed gently, moving forward to brush her paw over his head. "I like you, too. Although I don't think either of you shall be stealing me," she teased Scupper'd gently.

It might not have been entirely true, the captain was certainly charming and seemed genuine, but she was still betrothed for now. She still had to hope she was going to be found and rescued. But it was the right thing to say. She didn't want the pup thinking that she preferred Jack's company over his. They were friends after all, or captain and cabin boy at least, and it wouldn't be right if any such thoughts entered their heads.

She thought about suggesting they turn back but she couldn't make herself pretend she was ready to part ways. It was just so nice to be around others for a change. In some odd way it reminded her of the animals she'd found comfort in knowing. And she was hardly aware that she was humming, eyes half closed as she remembered. Nor did she realize that she had started to sway, hum turning into a lovely song she'd sung so many times.

She laughed, eyes crinkling slightly, as she listened to Scupper'd promise to protect her. "You are far more noble than a scoundrel and I thank you for you offer, perhaps when you're older you can be an honorary knight," she told the pup though she somehow doubted he'd ever want to be anything more than the Captain's Cabin Boy.

Her eyes danced with merriment at watching the two, "Yes, I imagine it is time to get back."

She followed along, falling into step alongside Jack, voice eventually drifting off from her song into raising notes that usually called to the birds or rabbits when she needed directions.

Feeling the captain bump into her, she retaliated in kind, bumping her shoulder into him and swinging her tail forward to skim over Scupper'd's back before knocking Jack's hat just so. Oh she could be tricky if she so desired and she laughed because it was nice to have friends. Even going "home" couldn't deter her good mood.