Hello again! I'm back from the missions trip to PA I went to - it was pretty fun and a great experience. Of course, there was the fact that I didn't get to write for nearly a week, but I managed to write this today. (After mostly giving myself motivational speeches and watching the 'Just Do It' video about three billion times. Am I too late for that meme?)

Oh, and I don't know too much about if I'll be able to update this Saturday...but who knows, maybe I might. (Because this Saturday, I will be somewhere away from home. Again. *makes shifty-eyes at MusicKeeper, coughs a lot into my fist* And you will know why when I give a possible update this Saturday. It'll be amazing, because I'm going to be traveling to...a certain place. A good place. Okay, I'm going to stop being vague now.)

This chapter mostly revolved around Caleb/Kanan's backstory - so I'm sorry if there isn't actual content or action, but I just really wanted to focus on him today. With that said, enjoy!

Chapter Ten. Kill the Beast

The castle was no longer home.

The same castle that Caleb had lived in for his whole life no longer felt like anything.

Where Caleb once heard laughter and bells and happiness was only anger and grief and hiding places around each and every corner. The dark hallways were foreign to him. The portraits of his grandparents and his parents were no longer his family members – they were nothing but strangers with painted expressions. The servants were no longer his friends – they were lifeless and automatic, working more like clockwork than actual humans. Nothing felt the same anymore.

There were tutors. There were people always keeping Caleb on a tight leash, treating him more like a dog than a prince. "Do this, Caleb," they would say. "Do that, Caleb. You need to learn this, Caleb. You are not a child anymore. Are you paying attention to us, Caleb? No, you cannot go outside. You must listen to us."

"No discipline at all," Caleb once heard a tutor mutter. "It was his parents, I'm telling you – mother died at a young age, and now his father's gone…how is that child ever going to survive on his own? The fact he was born a prince was just a lucky twist of fate."

Dim-witted. Impatient. Temperamental. Childish. Selfish.

Caleb learned that those words were always going to be associated with him, no matter what the circumstances.

For some time, Kira's notes had given him some hope – they were always light and full of joy. But at the same time, Caleb couldn't help but to feel jealousy prickle at him each time he read his friend's delicately-written words. She had a father. She had someone who properly loved her and cared for her. Caleb had no one.

And when Kira's notes stopped coming, Caleb was sure there was nothing left for him.

Years went by, and when Caleb had grown into a teenager, he decided that enough was enough. He needed to forget.

Caleb grew to be just as what his tutors said of him – temperamental, childish, impatient. Reckless. Tired. Angry.

And the woman came at midnight. Most of the time, servants would be the one to answer the doors – but everyone was asleep, and Caleb was awake. He heard the knocks echo around the castle – and when no one rose to answer it, he kicked himself out of bed and ran down the stairs. "Do I have to be the one to answer?" he grumbled indignantly as he walked towards the door. He placed a hand on the knob, turning from side to side if there really weren't any servants willing to do their job. Again, Caleb felt a brief flash of annoyance.

He tugged the door open – and instantly, he felt something wet fling across his face.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you," a trembling, frail voice spoke from below Caleb.

That was when Caleb looked down to see a dark mass shivering on the steps in front of the great castle. Narrowing his eyes, the boy managed to make out a few locks of grey hair tumbling from underneath the dark…cloak, the boy realized. "There's a storm brewing," the voice continued. As if on cue, lightning flashed across the sky – Caleb backed away only a little, but he didn't bother opening the door any further to let this person come in.

"So?" asked Caleb, looking up at the sky.

"I –" Caleb could tell that the voice was of a female's now. There was a wet cough. Caleb recoiled. "I need a place to stay for the night," the woman continued shakily. "Please, if you would do this old lady a favor."

And then the woman lifted her head, her hood tumbling away from her head. This time, Caleb actually backed away. The woman's face was lined and greying, her eyes nothing more than watery grey pinpoints of light under the torches. Her grey hair was wild and messy – Caleb was fairly certain that it was snot that dripped down from the old crone's nose. Her hands were scary little things, with bones sticking out sharply and the blue and green veins visible on the milky flesh of them.

"Leave," Caleb said, tightening his grip on the door. "Leave."

"I…have payment," the old woman said, her voice close to desperation. Caleb watched as she tugged something out from her cloak pocket – and then, in her frail and bony hand, a single, full rose sat. It, very much unlike the woman, was beautiful. With red petals shining and gleaming under the light and thorns visible, Caleb could make out almost every detail on the flower.

And yet.

"I don't care," Caleb bit out. "Leave, before I call the guards!"

"Is that your final command?" the woman asked quietly.

Caleb didn't waste any time. His voice hardening, he replied, "Yes."

"Then you leave me no choice."

For a moment, Caleb stared at the crone, bewildered by her words – and in the next moment, the old crone was gone. In a warm flash of golden light was a different woman standing in her place. Caleb stared up at the new woman – her skin was a rich, honey color and her dark eyes shone even despite the dim light. Her hair was dark now, twisted into an elaborate hairstyle at the back of her head.

"Who are you?" Caleb breathed, sinking against the doorway. "What are you?"

"Have you not read the stories?" the woman asked softly. Her voice didn't shake – it seemed to echo around and around the small space she and Caleb were in. "I have heard your distress, young child – I have heard your pleas for something new to happen. I came here, thinking that perhaps there was some good left in you…" Her voice drifted and her eyebrows furrowed together in disappointment. "I was wrong."

"I – I didn't know," Caleb stammered. "Please. I'm sorry – I didn't think you were –"

"It does not matter what you thought me as, prince," the woman told him. "It only matters what you did." She brought the rose back out again. "Hasn't anyone ever told you that outward appearances aren't everything?" When Caleb didn't respond, the woman pursed her lips. "I wish I could tell you more," she murmured. "I wish I could see some goodness go back into you – which is why I'll be teaching you this lesson."

Kneeling down before Caleb, the woman continued, "You will learn to love, young prince. You will learn to let the light go back into your life…and it will come in the form of someone who loves you most in the world. Until then…" Caleb felt something hot spike through his body as the woman placed a hand on his face. He let out a small cry, tumbling down to his knees. Through the white-hot pain he felt, he vaguely heard the woman continue, "You will live a life as a real outcast. I name you Kanan – a beast. Become what you are inside – become what you will if you do not learn."

xXx

The castle no longer felt like home.

Whatever goodness and light there might have been in the castle when Kira was here had rushed out with her – the lights had dimmed down by themselves, and a heavy blanket seemed to cover itself over the castle once more. Padmé never saw herself as a pessimist, either – but now, watching the rain fall from the dark skies, she couldn't help but feel something cold settle over her heart. This was how it was all going to end. The final petals were going to drop from the rose tonight – she was sure of it.

"I knew it – I knew it," Admiral was fretting from behind. "It was foolish to get our hopes up."

"Maybe it'd be better if she had never come at all," Anakin agreed dejectedly.

Padmé sighed, turning again to the window. The rain slid down the windows, keeping her from seeing anything beyond the woods. It was odd how the weather seemed to work this way. As she heard Admiral and Anakin keep up with their woes, she let her eyes remain outside – until at last, she saw the faint glow of…were those torches?

As though he was trying to reassure Padmé that her eyes weren't deceiving her, Artoo started barking wildly, running up to the window. Lights, Padmé thought to herself, her heart leaping. Who else would visit Kanan?

"Could it be?" Padmé whispered, leaning towards the window. "Anakin, Admiral!"

Instantly, the two figures stopped arguing – and they both turned to Padmé. The teapot jumped up and down excitedly, hissing, "There are lights! It could be Kira coming back!"

So much for being dejected – both Anakin and Admiral practically tripped over themselves trying to get to the windows. Anakin let out a short gasp, breathing, "I see the lights – but I can't see anything else! Artoo, let's get these windows clean of this…" He grunted as he reached up to wipe away at the fine moisture that had collected over the windows. "Come on," he muttered under his breath. "Who is it?"

It seemed to take a lifetime for Anakin to wipe the windows clean – but once they were, everyone looked down in unison.

Padmé felt her heart sink as she spotted that the lights were not, in fact, coming from Kira.

Men were marching through the gates, carrying axes and pistols and heavy blocks of wood. Pitchforks, knives, all sorts of weapons – and most interestingly of all –

"The man at the front!" Padmé cried out frantically, "He's got the mirror!"

"How did he get the mirror?" Anakin asked, his eyes wide.

"Kira wouldn't have given it to him willingly," Admiral muttered, shaking his head.

Padmé watched as the man at the front hurried to the front doors – and then, hopping down from the windows, she said, "We have to warn the others!"

"Right ahead of you," Padmé heard Anakin say. "Call everyone together – build a blockade – get out a bunch of traps – defend the castle!"

It didn't take too long for Padmé to let all of the servants know that there were intruders. She let her shouts echo around the hallways – and in almost no time at all, people were hurrying out from rooms and staircases and making their ways to the doors. Cadena and the other dressers pressed themselves against the doors – Anakin told the other lights to lower themselves, Admiral was busy running around and getting out the ones who had not yet reached the message. Even Artoo, in his small form, was desperately trying to add some weight to putting pressure on the doors.

"Luke," Padmé suddenly gasped, looking up the stairs. "Where's Luke?"

Ahsoka, who had been hurrying past Padmé, stopped short in her tracks. The duster and the teapot's eyes met, both wide with panic. "Luke's gone?" Ahsoka asked, helping along some other servants to the doors. "Isn't he with the others? In a safe place?"

"I don't –"

Padmé was interrupted by a loud bang that shuddered through the castle. She and Ahsoka looked back at each other in distress. "Go warn Kanan," Ahsoka said, rushing for the doors. "I'll see if we can find Luke!" Padmé nodded in agreement, though it didn't keep her from still feeling anxious.

She hopped up the stairs as quickly as her teapot self could – she skidded down the numerous hallways and was almost out of breath when she finally made her way into the familiar West Wing. Padmé was relieved to find that the doors were already open – and she stopped short to see Kanan standing on the balcony.

He had changed out of his formal clothes, instead dressed in a loose nightshirt and pants. He was staring down at the dome which held up the rose. Padmé stared as a petal dropped from the rose. She bit down on her lip, but it didn't keep her from saying, "Kanan – there are intruders coming. We need to move!"

"Leave me," Kanan murmured, not looking up.

"But Kanan," Padmé stressed, "the castle is under attack!" Just on time, there was another shudder that ran through the castle. Padmé realized with a chill that she could now hear the men raging below.

And yet, Kanan didn't move.

"We need to do something!" Padmé continued to protest.

"It doesn't matter now." Kanan's voice was quiet. "Let them come."

xXx

Ahsoka couldn't find Luke, but she did pass on to the other servants that the little teacup was missing. She would have gone out to search the castle herself, but she remained at the doors, trying to hold back the battering ram that the men threw at the doors. "Kill the beast! Kill the beast!" she could hear them roar from the other side.

"This – isn't working!" Anakin grunted from next to her. "We need to do something!"

Everyone was almost thrown forward as the battering ram smashed against the doors again. Ahsoka stared all around her – it was an odd sight to see bits of furniture trying desperately to push themselves against the doors. Furniture. Unusual sight.

Ahsoka perked up. "I have a plan!" she cried. She was almost launched across the room, if it hadn't been for Anakin pulling her back before she could fall away. "Great," he was saying, gritting his teeth as the battering ram pressed against the door again. "Mind sharing it with the rest of us?"

"We're furniture!" Ahsoka cried over the din.

"What? You don't say," Anakin snapped.

"Anakin. We're furniture! They don't know that!" Ahsoka said exasperatedly.

That got Anakin's attention. A wide grin split across his face. "Ahsoka," he said faintly as the men from outside shouted louder, "have I ever told you how much I love you?"

"You might have missed it once or twice."

"Well, I love you."

Ahsoka rolled her eyes and turned away, shouting, "Everyone! Get away from the doors!"

"Are you insane?" Cadena shouted, turning on her side. "They'll get through!"

"We still have the advantage!" Ahsoka replied eagerly, hopping away. "Look at us! We're nothing but furniture! They'll walk through – and we'll be waiting for them! It'll be a sneak attack!" Realization dawned over everyone's faces – and as though they were one force, everyone split and rushed to opposite ends of the room. Ahsoka felt a small thrill of pride as they did so, and she joined them at once.

The lights dimmed – Ahsoka held her breath as everyone stilled. The battering ram smashed against the doors again – twice – a third time –

And then they were pushed open, banging against the walls and letting in a crowd of men of all different shapes and sizes. Ahsoka had to resist the urge to jump back in disgust at the bloodthirsty expressions they all wore. She felt anger simmering inside of her – they were all so tempted to kill Kanan for…for what? For looking different? Idiots, Ahsoka thought decidedly to herself. She wouldn't feel sorry at all once the trap would spring.

Someone fell away from the group – a younger-looking man took up Anakin (Ahsoka watched this with some glee) – and then, opening his eyes, Anakin shouted loudly, "Now!"

All hell was unleashed.

Dressers popped their drawers, smashing unsuspecting men in the face. Artoo barked and ran across the room, moving too quickly for the gawking men. He tripped them up – pushed them to the nearest and patiently waiting chests. Ahsoka launched forward, jabbing a man with a pitchfork in the eye with her head. She saw Cadena from the corner of her eye, opening up her doors and smashing two skulls together. Anakin was lighting someone's hair on fire. Even Admiral, usually so prim and proper, was using his gears as weapons.

Ahsoka ducked as a meaty hand tried to grab at her. She dove to the side, letting out a loud laugh as the man grumbled something in frustration.

It almost made everything worth it.

But then Ahsoka saw Padmé hopping down the stairs, her expression going from disappointed to confused. "Padmé!" Ahsoka cried out, narrowly missing a man's axe. "You made it!" She managed to get up to Padmé without too much trouble. The teapot's expression remained puzzled as she asked, "What's going on here?"

"What do you think we're doing? Defending the castle!" Ahsoka responded. "Did you tell Kanan the news?"

Padmé shook her head, her lips turning down into a sad frown. "He's…he wouldn't give me a proper response," she said quietly.

"Oh."

Padmé looked over Ahsoka's shoulder. "But we can talk more about that later," the teapot said bravely. "Right now, it looks like I've missed most of the fun."

xXx

Whatever light might have been left outside was surely gone now, but Kira kept pushing at the windows, hoping that they would (by some miracle) unstick themselves. She could feel bruises popping up on her hands and her legs, but she didn't stop moving about. "Is there anything sharp in this room?" Kira asked, turning to Obi-Wan.

The older man shook his head. "I already looked," he told her sadly.

"Argh," Kira groaned, throwing her hands to her face in frustration. "I just – there needs to be some other way out of here!"

Before Obi-Wan could respond, there was a faint neighing sound outside the door. And then, his arm shot out to grab Kira as an axe just smashed against the cellar doors. Kira let out a small cry – the two stumbled back blindly as they watched with surprise as the axe dove itself again and again into the cellar doors. "How could that…?" Kira heard Obi-Wan ask wondrously, but he didn't get to finish his sentence.

The cellar doors were hacked open, and then, a moment later, Kira saw Luke and Phillip's faces floating at the opening. Luke was smiling widely, perched on top of Phillip's head. The horse had the axe handle tucked in his mouth, and though Kira instantly stood up to take it out, she couldn't help but to feel a surge of relief at the familiar faces.

"You guys have got to try this," was Luke's only statement when Kira and Obi-Wan got up on the horse.

A/N - I don't know, was I the only one who was remotely unsettled by the fact that in the movie, Ms. Potts forgot that her own son went MIA? (Is that the acronym? I think it is.)

Reviews are always great! Constructive criticism is alright, but flames are not!