Rating: G
Pairings:
Luke/Mara
Disclaimer:
The franchise belongs to George Lucas and the Walt Disney Company.
Once
upon a time, old Ben the miller lived at his grain mill on the edge
of the stream with his three apprentices, Luke, Lando, and Han. When
it came time for him to retire, he had neither wife nor child. He
gathered his three apprentices together. “I will leave the mill to
whomever can find the best horse, and a wife to help them run the
business.”
The
trio walked together until they reached a certain fork in the road.
“Here's where we part company,” Lando told the two younger men.
“I will go to the City of the Clouds. I'm sure to win a horse with
my great luck and charm the ladies with my new suit of clothes.”
“I'll
be going to Alderaan.” Han shouldered his satchel. “They say the
horses there run wild and free. I'm sure to be able to tame a fine
one.” The tall man smirked. “I heard the ladies there are almost
as wild. I like a woman with a little spunk to her.” He chuckled at
the youngest apprentice. “What of you, Luke? You don't have the
connections we do. You spend most of your time with Ben and the
mill.”
“Oh,
I'm sure I'll find something.” Luke gave them one of his sunny
smiles. “I'll buy a nice horse in town, or ask about them at the
nearest farm, and I'm sure there will be a nice girl in town I will
be able to court.” It was true that he was the youngest of the
three, and that he usually spent most of his time with Ben at the
mill. On their nights off, when Han and Lando went into town to drink
with pretty girls and take part in games of chance, he remained with
Ben at his little cottage, listening to his stories and helping him
tend to his home. Han and Lando were fond of him, but they sometimes
thought him a little strange.
They
had no sooner went their separate ways than Luke found himself lost
in the great dark Endor woods, just outside of Coruscant City. He'd
heard the stories about the strange creatures that lived in these
woods. The former ruler was said to have been an evil sorcerer named
Palpatine, who held the area with an iron fist, turning anyone who
disobeyed him into animals.
“I
wish I could find my way out!” Luke shivered. “I heard there's
ghosts and monsters and all manner of evil dark creatures in this
land. All I want is a horse!”
“I
can help you find a horse.” A long, lithe tabby cat with fur like a
shining orange sunset and deep-green eyes batted at his heels. “I'll
just need for you to do do some work for me for a few years.”
“I
don't mind working,” the boy admitted, “but how could you help
me?”
“Follow
me, young man.” She took off into the woods. He hurried after her,
his legs not quite as limber as hers.
The
ginger-furred feline lead him to an old black castle on a hillside.
“Goodness!” The youth exclaimed. “You're quite a wealthy kitty,
if you own such a fine home!”
The
cat coughed a bit as she lead him across the drawbridge. “It's, er,
not mine. My, er, guardian used to live here. I took over when he
died.”
Four
tiny kittens, three with orange fur, one with gray, were licking
their paws in the main hall when she arrived. “Servants!” she
called to them, clapping her paws. “I want you to attend to this
young man. He is our newest addition to the household. He will take
over the household chores and tend to the stables. For tonight,
however, I wish for you to find him a nice bed to sleep in and food
for him to eat. I'm sure he would not prefer the mice pudding and
flaked fish we fancy.”
Luke
was taken upstairs to the biggest bedroom he'd ever seen. The cats
brought him a meal of fish and vegetable soup and fresh bread. Two
kittens combed his golden hair; another brushed the leaves and twigs
off his coat and trousers.
When
they were done, they lead him to the music room. He was surprised to
see a group of larger cats playing the fiddle, the horn, and the
viola, their song an old tune that had once been a favorite of the
previous owner of the castle. The kittens leaped merrily around them,
as nimble and quick as lightning.
“Dance
with me, Luke!” The ginger cat pranced on her hind legs before him.
“I do enjoy dancing, but I haven't had a partner in years.”
“But
you're a cat!” Luke protested. “You can't dance!”
“You'd
be surprised!” She swayed before him, managing to skip around on
her hind feet. Luke joined her, even if it felt a bit odd to be
dancing with a cat.
The
moment he started yawning, the ginger cat bade her kittens to take
Luke upstairs to his room. They removed his yellow coat and black
wool trousers and stockings and heavy shoes and settled him into the
massive canopy bed. The ginger cat herself blew out his candle.
Something
tickled Luke's nose the next morning. His blue eyes met a pair of
round green ones, with a long ginger tail rubbing around his face.
“Rise and shine, my servant,” the marmalade-furred pussy purred.
“It's time for you to dress and begin your duties.”
“Wha...huh?”
Luke sat up gingerly as two white cats pulled off his blankets. “What
duties?”
“Your
duties as my servant, of course!” She nodded as two cats hauled in
hot water. “This is for you to wash in. As cats, we like to keep
ourselves clean.” Indeed, the cats scrubbed him with their paws,
then wiped him with their soft tails and dressed him.
The
ginger cat lead him downstairs to the courtyard, which was filled
with wood. She nudged at a silver ax. “The first thing you are to
do is chop wood. Make sure you chop it very small.”
Luke
did it, and did it well. Chopping wood for their fires was one of his
duties for Master Ben. He chopped wood every day for several weeks.
When he finished, the ginger cat appraised his work. “Very good,
servant. Just perfect.” She nodded as three cats pulled a small
sled right to the foot of the log pile. “Now, load those logs onto
that sled, and we'll take them around back. I have another job for
you to do.”
He
shrugged and did as he was told, carrying the remainder that didn't
fit onto the sled himself. They followed the cats with the sled to
the clearing. It was a wide meadow covered in tall grass and flowers,
about five leagues from the main castle. Luke could understand why
she liked this place. It had a fine view of a sparkling brook and the
Naboo Mountains.
The
ginger cat picked a scythe made of silver off the sled. “After
you've stacked the wood, I want you to cut the grass in the field,
then dry it for the horses and cattle in the stables.”
Luke
did as he was bade. It once again took him many weeks, but he finally
got all the grass dried and bound with twine. The ginger cat and
several of her servants approached him as soon as the last bundle was
in the hay loft.
One
of the cats had a carpenter's box between his teeth. Luke took it
from him. In it were tools of the carpenter's trade, but the saw and
wedge were silver and the mallet was copper. “These are beautiful!”
Luke gasped. “Where did you get such fine tools?” He took the saw
out to admire it.
“They
belonged to my guardian, the previous owner of this castle.” She
brought him to roughly the center of the now-cleared meadow. “I
want you to build a little cabin for us right here.”
“A
cabin?” Luke scratched the back of his head? “But why?”
“I
have my reasons.” The ginger cat just glared at him. “Well, are
you going to stand there, or start building? It'll be winter soon.
You'll want to do as much as you can before the frost sets in.”
Luke
was beginning to wonder if he would ever get his horse. It took him
years to build that house with just the cat's help. No one but the
cats and the animals in the stables seemed to live here. He hadn't
seen another human since he left the mill. While he continued to
dance at night with the ginger cat, during the day, she continued to
be rather brusque with him, treating him like little more than a
slave.
When
he asked her if he could have some new clothes, since his old ones
were growing threadbare, the ginger cat shook her head. “I'm sorry,
but the only clothes left in the castle belonged to my guardian, and
he was much shorter and broader across the shoulders than you were.
They wouldn't fit.” The youth continued wearing his old yellow
coat, which was falling to shreds around him.
A
year flew by as if they were six weeks. It was a sunny day in early
spring when Luke declared the little house finished. “I'm really
proud of it, Kitty,” Luke told the ginger cat. “I've never built
anything like this with my own two hands before. I wish my friends
Han and Lando could see it.” He sighed. “I miss them, and Ben.
Ben is so wise and kind, and even though they tease me, I love Han
and Lando like brothers.”
“Then
it's time you returned to them.” The ginger cat jumped down from
the window sill where she was perched. “I promised you a horse.
Let's go select the finest horse I have in my stable.”
All
the horses looked up as Luke arrived. He'd grown to love each and
every one. They were the most beautiful animals he'd ever seen, far
nicer than any of the horses that drove Ben's cart. A shining horse
with a glossy white coat and creamy bluish mane nudged Luke's head.
“This one,” he said. “Ben will love her! Besides, she's my
favorite in the stable. I don't think I could part with her.”
“Very
well.” The ginger cat meowed at the horse, who nodded. “Artoo and
I will be along in three day's time. Let's get you some lunch. After
you eat, my servants will show you the way out.”
“Kitty,”
Luke said as they went back to the castle, “don't you like me?”
The
ginger cat stopped for a minute. “Yes,” she said simply. “You're
a...well, you're a good friend. I don't know why you're so good to a
cat, but you are. You've done everything I've asked you to, and
performed very well.”
“Because
you're my friend.” He leaned over and gave the cat a kiss. “You
were nice enough to give me this horse and a place to stay. And
you're a good dancer, for a cat!”
The
cat turned nearly as red as her fur for a second before she regained
her composure. “Yes, well, I'll see you in three day's time.”
Luke
was lead to the main road by three strong Siamese cats. He walked
back to the mill, since most folks took one look at his tattered coat
and trousers and went right by him. He didn't mind. He enjoyed the
stroll, now that he knew where he was going.
He
arrived at the mill only a few hours later. Lando and Han were
already there. Han had a small, feisty noblewoman on his arm and was
bringing a strong, fuzzy brown horse to the stable behind the mill.
Lando trotted over on a sleek golden mare, followed by a woman with
lavender curls and a lacy gown as expensive as Lando's gold and blue
cape and trousers.
“Hey,
kid.” Han raised his eyes at what was left of Luke's clothes. “What
happened to you? And why do you smell like cat?”
“You
guys won't believe what happened to me!” Luke's big smile was as
bright as the sun. “I worked for an orange tabby. She was kind of
bossy, and she gave me a lot of jobs to do, but she finally gave me
the most beautiful white horse I ever saw. She told me it'll be along
in three days.”
“Luke,”
Lando started slowly, “I know these woods are full of ghosts and
witches and things, but...cats can't talk.”
“Maybe
they can.” The girl with the two buns on her head climbed off Han's
furry horse. “I've heard a lot of stories in Alderaan about the
wicked Emperor Palpatine, who turned his entire household into
animals before he died, including his adopted daughter.” The girl
smiled at Luke. “By the way, my name is Countess Leia Organa. My
friend over there is Lady Amilyn Holdo.”
Her
purple-haired friend nodded. “I've heard the story, too. He wanted
her to help him turn all of his enemies in the kingdom into animals,
but she refused. He turned on them instead before he was killed in
battle.”
Ben
came out next. “Luke!” He hugged the boy. “I've missed you,
lad.” The old miller gazed over Luke's shoulder. “What happened
to your clothes, my boy? And where is your horse? Did you meet any
ladies?”
“My
clothes? Oh.” Luke looked down at himself. “The cat said she
didn't have anything that would fit me. As for my horse, it'll be
along in three days.” His face fell. “But I never met any ladies.
Only a girl cat. I guess she counts.”
“I'm
afraid you're going to have to sleep in the stables for a few days,
my boy.” Ben sighed. “We can give you a good scrub in the metal
tub, but we really have no clothes that will fit you.”
So
Luke lived in the stables for three days. He didn't mind. He enjoyed
making friends with Han's horse Chewbacca and Lando's mare Lady Luck
and helping to clean out their stalls. The young man was sure they
would be great friends with his white horse Artoo.
On
the morning of the third day, the most beautiful golden carriage
anyone at the mill had ever seen pulled up to the main building,
pulled by six horses. A page in golden livery helped a stunning
red-headed princess in a black and gold gown and a jewel-studded
crown alight. Leia and Amilyn's eyes widened.
“That's
her!” Amilyn gasped. “That's the Princess Mara! She disappeared
years ago! I heard she angered her protector so much, he sealed her
away in his castle.”
Ben
Kenobi bowed low before her. “You honor our humble mill, Your
Highness.” He kissed her hand. “I was a knight myself once,
before I opened my mill. I'm afraid my lord is long gone now. How may
I be of service to you?”
Mara
tossed her fiery mane of red-orange hair. “You have an apprentice
named Luke Skywalker here?”
“Yes,”
Ben admitted. “He's in the stables, tending to the horses. His
clothes are a bit of a mess. We've sent out for fabric to make him
new ones...”
“No
need for that.” One of her servants brought out a small trunk.
“I've brought him the finest clothes money can buy in town.” The
gold-clad servant brought the white horse to Ben. “And I believe
you asked your apprentices to bring a horse and a woman to wed. Here
is the horse.” She gave him a small smile. “And I am his woman.”
Luke
clutched the ragged remains of his coat around him Han brought him to
the group. “I'm sorry, Your Highness,” he stammered, “but I was
tending to the horses, and I know I have hay in my hair, and my coat
is practically falling off me. I'll get a better coat as soon as I'm
paid...”
Mara
stopped his prattle with a kiss. “Don't you recognize your Kitty?”
“Kitty?”
Luke's blue eyes tripled in size. “You can't be! She...but
you're...”
Mara
nodded. “I was the ward of Emperor Sheev Palpatine. My guardian
taught me some magic, hoping I'd use it against his enemies. I turned
many innocent people into animals before he told me to use it against
a prince who had never harmed anyone. I refused, and he turned me and
everyone in our castle into cats before dying himself. The only way
the magic could be reversed was if a young man with a good heart
agreed to work for me for a year, obey all commands, and take nothing
that wasn't offered from him.”
She
gave him a gentle kiss. “He also had to befriend me and kiss me,
even though I was a cat and not much of a friend.”
“I...did?”
Luke looked over his shoulder at his employer. “Ben...would you
minded terribly if I didn't take the mill?”
“Yeah.”
Han put an arm around Leia. “I kind of lost interest, too. Leia and
I will be going back to her kingdom to race horses and help her
parents keep an eye on things.”
Lando
grinned at Amilyn. “Lady Holdo and I have a room at Cantino Bight,
the biggest casino town in all the kingdoms, reserved just for us.
We're going to paint the town red, then have a little fun doubling
our money at the Bespin Casino.”
“I'm
getting too old to run this place anyway.” Ben shrugged. “Maybe
it's time I thought about selling.”
“You
can come back with us.” Luke took his master's hand. “We'd be
glad to have your counsel.”
And
that's just what they did. Mara ordered Luke to wash and dress in the
clothes she brought. When his servants were finished with him, he
looked as handsome as any prince in his white and silver clothes and
silver crown. She and Luke returned to the castle...to find that
Luke's cottage had been transformed into a larger, even more stunning
castle of silver and gold. She and Luke lived in the castle, while
Ben resided in the older palace, tending to the gardens and the
remaining cats until he died. The kind old man never had to touch a
millstone again. Han and Leia became revered horse-breeders in
Alderaan, with Leia taking over for her own parents on the kingdom's
council when they stepped down, while Lando and Amilyn continued
traveling from casino town to casino town, looking for their next big
win.
Luke
eventually wed Princess Mara...and no one ever said again that a
young person of no importance couldn't become someone special.
The
End
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