Cait in Boots
by Reeve
Once upon a time, President Shinra died leaving the Shinra Corporation
to his son, Vice-President Rufus, his Turks to his assistant Tseng and . .
. a cat to his youngest Executive, Reeve. "Now that's some difference!" you
might say; but there you are, that's how President Shinra was! Rufus became
President and ran the Corporation with fear, Tseng took the Turks and set
off in search of his fortune (and a decent bar), while Reeve sat behind his
desk and sighed, "A cat! What am I going to do with that?" But the cat heard
his words and said, "Don't worry, Master. What do you think? That I'm worth
less than a half-ruined Corporation or a mangy bunch of drunken Turks? Give
me a cloak, a Hypnocrown, a giant stuffed Moogle, and a pair of boots, and
you will see what I can do."
Reeve, by no means surprised, for it was
quite common for cats to talk in those days, gave the cat what he asked for,
and as he strode away, confident and cheerful, the cat said, "Don't look so
glum, Master. See you soon!" Swift of foot as he was, the cat caught a fat
wild Chocobo, popped it into his bag, knocked at the door of the Pagoda (by
now they were in Wutai), went before Lord Godo and, removing his crown, with
a sweeping bow, he said: "Sire, the famous Marquis of Costa Del Sol sends
you this fine plump Chocobo as a gift." "Oh," said Lord Godo, "thanks so much."
"Till tomorrow," replied the cat as he went out. And the next day, back he
came with some Cokatolises tucked away in his bag. "Another gift from the
brave Marquis of Costa Del Sol," he announced. Chekov remarked, "This Marquis
of Costa Del Sol is indeed a very courteous gentleman."
In the days that followed, Cait in Boots
regularly visited the Pagoda, carrying Kalm Fangs, Tonberries, Cokatolises
and Sahagins, presenting them all to Lord Godo in the name of the Marquis
of Costa Del Sol. Folk in Wutai began to talk about this noble gentleman.
"He must be a great hunter," someone remarked. "He must be very loyal to Lord
Godo," said someone else. And yet another, "But who is he? I've never heard
of him." At this someone who wanted to show people how much he knew, replied,
"Oh, yes, I've heard his name before. In fact, I knew his father." Chekov
was very interested in this generous man who sent these gifts. "Is your master
young and handsome?" she asked the cat. "Oh yes. And very rich, too," answered
Cait in Boots. "In fact, he would be very honored if you and Lord Godo called
to see him in his villa." When the cat returned home and told Reeve that Lord
Godo and Chekov were going to visit him, he was horrified. "Whatever shall
we do?" he cried. "As soon as they see me they will know how poor I am." "Leave
everything to me," replied Cait in Boots. "I have a plan."
For several days, the crafty cat kept on
taking gifts to the Lord Godo and Chekov, and one day he discovered that they
were taking Yuffie, the crown Princess of Wutai, on a carriage ride that very
afternoon. The cat hurried home in great excitement. "Master, come along,"
he cried. "It is time to carry out my plan. You must go for a swim in the
ocean." "But I can't swim," replied Reeve. "That's all right," replied Cait
in Boots. "Just trust me." So they went to the ocean and when Lord Godo's
carriage appeared, the cat pushed Reeve into the water.
"Help!" cried the cat. "The Marquis of Costa
Del Sol is drowning." Lord Godo heard his cries and sent his escorts to the
rescue. They arrived just in time to save the poor man, who really was drowning.
Lord Godo, Chekov, and Yuffie fussed around and ordered new clothes to be
brought for the Marquis of Costal Del Sol. "Wouldn't you like to marry such
a handsome man?" Chekov asked Yuffie. "Oh, yes," replied Yuffie. However,
the cat overheard Staniv remark that they must find out how rich he was. "He
is very rich indeed," said Cait in Boots. "He owns the villa and all the land
on the Great Continent. Come and see for yourself. I will meet you at the
villa." And with these words, the cat rushed off across the ocean on a Golden
Chocobo in the direction of Costa Del Sol, shouting at the sunbathers working
on their tans, "If anyone asks you who your master is, answer: the Marquis
of Costa Del Sol. Otherwise you will all be sorry." And so, when Lord Godo's
naval fleet came by, the sunbathers told Lord Godo that their master was the
Marquis of Costal Del Sol.
In the meantime, Cait in Boots had arrived
at Cloud's villa, which was currently occupied by the mighty Sephiroth. Before
knocking at the door, the cat said to himself, "I must be very careful, or
I'll never get out of here alive." When the door opened, Cait in Boots removed
his Hypnocrown, exclaiming, "The Great Sephiroth, my respects!" "What do you
want, cat?" asked Sephiroth rudely. "Sir, I've heard you possess great powers.
That, for instance, you can change into a Gi Spector or an Elfadunk." "That's
perfectly true," said Sephiroth, "The ability to change one's looks, voice,
and words is the power of Jenova." "Well," said the cat, "I was talking to
certain friends of mine who said that you can't turn into a tiny little creature,
like a mouse." "Oh, so that's what they say, is it?" exclaimed Sephiroth.
The cat nodded, "Well, Sir, that's my opinion too, because folk that can do
big things never can manage little ones." "Oh, yes? Well, just watch this!"
retorted Sephiroth, turning into a mouse. In a flash, the cat leapt on the
mouse and ate it whole. Then he dashed to the villa door, just in time, for
Lord Godo's entourage was drawing up. With a bow, Cait in Boots said, "Sire,
welcome to the villa of the Marquis of Costa Del Sol!" Lord Godo and Chekov,
Yuffie and the young Executive who, dressed in his princely clothes, really
did look like a marquis, got out of the carriage and Lord Godo spoke: "My
dear Marquis, you're a fine, handsome, young man, you have a great deal of
land and a magnificent villa. Tell me, are you married?" "No," Reeve answered,
"but I would like to find a wife." He looked at Yuffie as he spoke. She in
turn smiled at him. To cut a long story short, Reeve, now Marquis of Costa
Del Sol, married Yuffie and lived happily with her in the villa. And from
time to time, the cat would wink and whisper, "You see, Master, I am worth
a lot more than any mangy drunken Turks or half-ruined Corporation, aren't
I?"
Completed August 2001 | Copyright
2001, Reeve.
