Part XIII -- Campsite
"Problem," Luke announced, poking his head out of the tarp-pit.
"What now?" asked Vader.
He tossed a pile of folded tarps up. "There are only enough supplies here to make three tents. The game provided for us Players and our Companions, but didn't count on us picking up Chang and Wara."
"Centaurs are used to sleeping out in the open," Chang replied.
"What about Wara?" asked Jenny. "The tents the game provides are only big enough for one person."
"I suppose sharing is out, then," Wara said dejectedly, looking dreamily Luke's way. "I can always stay in unicorn form and sleep standing up outside."
"No need," Vader volunteered. "I will sleep beneath the stars tonight."
No one objected. Luke amused himself privately by modifying a popular joke -- where does a Dark Lord of the Sith sleep? Anywhere he wants.
"And where are you going?" Metria demanded as Vader strode away.
"For a walk," he replied calmly, disappearing into the trees.
Metria became very thoughtful, a bad sign. "I'm going to flout the area for monsters."
"What the area?" asked Chang.
"Disregard, ignore, inspect, patrol..."
"Scout," Jenny provided.
"Whatever." She popped out.
"Does she always speak like that?" asked Chang.
"As long as I've known her," Luke replied.
When he climbed out of the tarp-pit, he saw that some sort of sticky black residue had gotten on his hands and jumpsuit. He'd better scrub off. There was a river nearby. But after his close call this morning at the love spring, he'd best make sure it was safe. What if it turned out to be a stream of consciousness or a cripple creek?
"Jenny, can I borrow Sammy?" he asked.
"Go ahead," she offered.
"Sammy, find the nearest unenchanted body of water."
The cat bolted, and Luke followed him to the bank of the river. Once he was certain the water was safe, he stripped off his jumpsuit and jumped in. Sammy hissed in annoyance as Luke's splash soaked him, and he dashed off to find his mistress.
The water was pleasantly cool, and after washing off he took a moment to simply relax and enjoy a moment of serenity...
"Luke?"
His eyes shot open, and he saw Wara several meters downstream, also bathing.
"Wara!" he exclaimed.
"Sorry," she apologized. "I didn't see you here." But her admiring eyes wandering over his chest and torso suggested she wasn't altogether displeased with the situation.
"Um, Wara? I... don't think we should be here together... ah..."
"Why not? We're both of age. And I'm not wearing panties." She moved toward him. "And you're quite handsome."
"Wara, listen..."
"But I love you. And no one's watching." She reached out to embrace him.
He put his hands on her shoulders to keep her at arm's length. "Wara, look. You're beautiful. Make no mistake about it. But I can't summon the stork with a woman I don't love. It's not what I believe in."
She stared at him. "You don't love me? But you just said I'm beautiful!"
"There's more to it than that. Maybe not all of Mundania believes it, but I believe a man and a woman get together and have children because they love each other. I know you love me, but I don't love you in return. I'm sorry, but that's how it is."
Tears came to her eyes. "I still love you, Luke, but I hate your father! If he hadn't stopped you from drinking from the love spring, I wouldn't be in this mess!" She scrambled out of the river and ran away, sobbing.
"Good one, Skywalker," Luke mumbled sarcastically as he dried off and dressed. "You have such a way with women. It's a good sign when they run off crying."
Jenny was the only one at camp when he got back. She was tending the fire and nibbling on a handful of long, skinny berries. Luke sat next to her with an exasperated sigh.
"Strawberry?" she offered.
"Nah."
"Then something else?" She gestured at a pile of foodstuffs she'd gathered from various trees and bushes.
"Not hungry."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just broke Wara's heart, that's all."
She smiled apologetically. "When love springs are involved, heartbreak is inevitable."
They were silent a moment. At length Luke picked up an apple pie and chewed absently.
"Jenny," he said at last, "when Vader chose you as his Companion, what was your first reaction?"
"He was pretty frightening at first sight," she admitted. "I thought he was a demon before I remembered there are no demons in Mundania. But after he saved me and Sammy from the wormhole, I realized he wasn't dangerous."
"He saved you?"
"Uh-huh." Sammy rubbed up against her leg, and she scratched him under the chin. "That's how he was able to suspend his disbelief in Xanth. He believed I was real."
Luke wondered if he should ask Jenny about the river incident. Now seemed as good a time as any.
"What happened at the Gap while I was out?"
She licked her lips somewhat nervously. "It's hard for me to say it. I broke the Adult Conspiracy."
"You did it to save my life. I think it's understandable."
"Well... I don't know exactly what happened to you and the others after the wave hit us. The first thing I remember was the Gap Dragon pulling me out and taking me to the ledge where you and you fa -- you and Lord Vader were. He looked very upset."
Of course the Dark Lord had been upset. He'd been looking forward to turning Luke to the dark side. His death would have put a stop to those plans.
"He was kneeling beside you with his face on your chest, just holding you. It looked like he was crying."
Luke glanced up in shock. Crying?
"When I got to the ledge, he seemed to realize you were still alive. He started yelling, ordering me to kiss you back to life. When I reminded him about the Adult Conspiracy, he got angry with me and told me I was your only hope. He looked over my shoulder the whole time I was reviving you." She frowned. "Then he acted like he didn't even care. It was weird."
Luke stared into the fire. This was disturbing news. If Jenny was telling the truth... then Vader must truly be his father.
But what of all he'd been taught? Hadn't Vader betrayed and murdered his father? Was Anakin Skywalker an invention of Obi-wan? No, pre-Empire records salvaged by the Alliance proved his existence.
Then it hit him.
"Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader are one and the same."
"What?" Jenny asked.
"I had a good friend named Obi-wan Kenobi," Luke explained. "He told me he had two students, Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader. According to him, Vader betrayed and murdered my father. For years I believed my father was once a Jedi Knight. Then a few weeks ago I met Vader on a planet called Bespin. We fought... and I lost my hand."
She looked at his arms. "But you still have two hands."
He rolled back his sleeve to expose the metallic band where the bionic components of his synthetic hand met flesh.
"Wow!" she marveled, taking his hand in hers and inspecting it carefully. "I had no idea Mundanian machines were this good!"
"Don't let that fool you," Luke cautioned. "It was still traumatic losing it. But even worse than that was learning that Obi-wan had lied to me, that Vader was my father. All I had believed to be truth was shattered. I didn't know who to believe." He stuffed the last bite of pie crust into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed. "But maybe Obi-wan wasn't lying after all. Maybe my father is Anakin Skywalker -- AND Darth Vader."
"So you've settled it," Jenny said happily. "Do you feel better now?"
"Not really," Luke confessed. "I'm still confused. If he's Anakin and Vader, why did he become evil? What happened that made him go to the dark side? And who is my mother? Vader said she died. But that can't be all to her story."
Jenny smiled. "Talk to him."
He looked at her as if she'd just suggested he go jump headlong into the Gap Chasm.
"Don't worry," she said with a laugh. "He's not as mean as he wants everyone to believe. Trust me."
He shrugged. "All right, I'll give it a shot." He wiped his hands off on his legs and stood. "What have I got to lose?"
"Good!" she cheered. "Are you going to track him down now? Sammy can help you."
"Nah. I'll find him and talk to him in the morning."
***
Vader seated himself on a log on the bank of the river, watching the waters slip by. The log was etched with writing as if someone had used it as a journal -- a captain's log -- and the plants bordering the river bore baked sweets instead of flowers or fruit -- hence its name, the With-A-Cookie River. Such sights failed to make any sort of impression on him, however. After spending three days in Xanth and seeing bizarre sight after bizarre sight, he was pretty much jaded against any more unusual occurrences.
Such as the one approaching right now.
"You look like you could use some pleasure, iron man."
A sultry woman stepped out of the brush, dressed from neck to foot in black leather that fit her body like a glove. An elegant black cloak trailed behind her, and a black steel mask concealed her features. She seated herself on the log beside him and gazed at him expectantly.
He chuckled. "Nice try, Metria."
"Curses," she grumped, assuming her usual form. "Foiled again."
"Why are you here?"
"Apart from seeing if you were up to summoning the stork, I was hoping to squeeze a few derails out of you."
"A few what?"
"Upsets, disasters, facts, trivia..."
"Details."
"Whatever. Will you tell me what happened the second time I went through the dreamcatcher?"
"That all depends. Will you tell me what you saw the second time I went through the dreamcatcher?"
She huffed. "We saw a glowing man. That's it. Don't even know who he was or why he showed up. Demon's honor."
Vader thought on that a moment. That could mean a number of things. Perhaps they had seen a fully healed version of himself. Or they had seen his ghost, meaning he would never again have a complete physical body. Or perhaps they had seen the ghost of a Jedi, meaning he had to renounce the dark side to be rid of the mask and armor. He wasn't sure.
"Well?" Metria demanded.
"Well what?"
"Aren't you going to tell me about my second trip through the portal?"
"Why should I?"
"You said if I told you about yours, you'd tell me about mine."
"I never said that. You only assumed it."
She hissed something that turned a nearby shoe tree into ash. "You're such a pain."
"Look who's talking."
"Oh-ho, someone's in a bad mood."
"You would be too, if you were thrust into a bizarre alternate reality without warning. The past few days have been a living hell for me. And frankly, I don't care to spend another day in Xanth. I simply want to complete the game and leave."
"Sounds like you could use a break." Her dress vanished. "Why don't you relax and take a moment to enjoy yourself?"
He hardly glanced at her. "Not interested."
"What's your problem?" she grumped, her dress reappearing. "At least your son acts halfway interested in my body. You, on the other hand, don't even care!"
"I'd meant to inquire about that. Why is it that you have such an effect on Luke yet don't even faze me?"
"Complaining about it, are we?"
"No. Simply curious."
She quirked her mouth to one side as she considered. "Could be that you're not the type who likes females."
He glared at her. "I have a son, Metria."
"Okay, so that's out. Could be that you're no longer capable of summoning the stork."
He continued to glare. "Don't go there."
"Fine. Maybe it's a game thing. After all, I'm not..."
"Not my Companion," Vader finished. "You've said that many times. But the goblins certainly seemed interested in you that first day, and they weren't even playing the game."
She thought some more, a task she probably didn't perform often. "Sometimes," she mused, "when a man loves a woman -- truly and deeply, of his own free will and not via love spring -- and that love continues to burn in him, it will grant him a measure of immunity against the natural wiles of a demoness or other attractive female."
That wasn't what he had hoped to hear.
"My guess is that Skycropper hasn't fallen in love with anyone yet. But I'd never guessed you to be the romantic sort."
He stared into the river, lost in his own emotions. No, he'd never been the romantic sort. He had been blunt about his feelings regarding the woman he loved, stating them in honest -- if laughably uneloquent -- terms to both her and Obi-wan. And there had been little time for romance after their wedding, what with the Clone Wars, the disintegration of the Republic... and his conversion.
"Ah, so there IS a woman in your life!" Metria crowed, becoming a rooster for a moment. "So who commands the affections of Crater?"
"Vader."
"Whatever."
"Her name is... was... Padme." His voice dropped to a whisper. "She died many years ago."
"Oh," she replied soberly. Despite being mischievous and emotionless, she knew where her limits were. "But you still love her."
"Yes," he admitted. "Though for a long time I have tried to deny it." He looked up into the alien nightscape. "When I became a Sith Lord, I tried to forget her. Stars, how I tried! I must have done an adequate job of hiding the memory of her, for my master would have destroyed me had he sensed I retained such emotions. Love and compassion are weaknesses in a Sith."
"And a demon," Metria added. "Go on."
"When I learned I had a son, I was determined to find him. I hoped to bring him to the dark side, an ally to our cause. What I didn't expect was for him to reawaken memories of his mother. There are painful memories among the joyous ones -- agonizingly painful. Perhaps that's why I tried to destroy him in our first encounter on the planet of Bespin. By killing him, I would cut off those recollections at the source."
"Judging by your bawlfest back at the river, I'd say you were never too keen on getting rid of Padme's melody."
"Her what?"
"Tune, song, jingle, reminiscence, thought, flashback..."
"Memory."
"Whatever."
"I hadn't expected the threat of losing Luke to affect me so. But he's all I have left of Padme. I don't want to lose him again. And the only way I can keep him is by converting him to the dark side. My master will kill him if he refuses to join our cause."
Metria grimaced. "Your master sounds worse than the demon leader Grossclout."
"I've never met Grossclout. But I'll take your word for it."
"Does Luke know how you feel?"
He snorted. "I doubt he even knows I'm capable of emotion."
"Then talk to him," she encouraged.
Vader curled his lip. "Do you not think he hates me enough already?"
"Trust me on this," Metria replied. "I may not know much about mortal affairs, but I know he should know these things."
"Very well." He stood. "I've nothing left to lose."
***
Chang picked his way through the forest, Wara's clothes bundled up beneath his arm. Just a few minutes ago he'd seen her bolt through the forest, obviously distraught and without a stitch of clothing on. Not that nudity was as big a deal in Xanth as it obviously was in Mundania, but if a male demon or party of goblins spotted Wara's body, she could be in great danger.
Whatever had happened to make her so upset? Had that Mundanian boy shunned her? True, he didn't love her, but he could have been more kind about it. She couldn't help that she loved him.
Wara lay sobbing in a thicket of blueberries. Chang approached and offered her the bundle.
"You left your clothing at the river," he explained.
"Oh." She paused in her sorrow long enough to accept her dress. "Thank you. Please don't look."
"Of course." He turned his back. Most human-stock breeds didn't appreciate someone else catching a glimpse of their panties.
"I'm done," she said at last.
"Come out of there," he urged, turning around. "The blueberry bushes are only making you more depressed."
"What's there to be happy about?" she moaned. "The man I love doesn't love me back."
"A difficult situation, I know. But wallowing in the blues won't help."
She stepped out of the thicket and seemed to brighten a bit. "I've never seen a pure-bred centaur before. Don't they mostly live in Centaur Isle?"
He winced. "I do not. I have a magic talent and was cast out some weeks ago. My mate and sons will have no more to do with me."
Her hands flew to her mouth. "I'm so sorry. You have as much reason to be upset as I do."
"Indeed. We both have people we love who want nothing to do with us."
"And we're both outcasts. You a magic centaur, I a werecorn. There's no place for us in Xanth."
"You know," he mused, "wouldn't it be something if we could create a place where all beings may live in peace? A refuge for all -- crossbreeds, magic-users, Mundanians, anyone. No one would be turned away, no matter how strange they were."
"That would be wonderful!" exclaimed Wara. "A paradise for outcasts."
"And not some mockery like Darius' village at Lake Eerie. Domination won't be the goal, but tolerance. We would encourage peace between all..."
"We?"
He stopped talking, suddenly embarrassed. "Sorry. Just got carried away."
She smiled. "You know, maybe your heart's desire has changed."
"Maybe it has," he admitted reluctantly. "Maybe it has." He decided to change the subject. "You know, you're a very attractive woman. If you could somehow combine your human and equine forms, you'd make a truly lovely centaur."
"Really?"
"Yes. You're a fine young woman, and Luke doesn't know what he's missing by turning his back on you."
She looked away. "Don't say that, please."
"Why not?"
"I already have one impossible romance to deal with," she moaned. "I don't need another." And she assumed her unicorn form and galloped away.
Now where had that come from? He'd just made a statement.
As he made his way back to camp, he realized he'd really grown fond of Wara. And that disturbed him. Centaurs as a race were adamantly against interspecies romance! At least, the centaurs of Centaur Isle were. Technically, he was no longer one of them. But once he found the Chosen One, he would rejoin them, wouldn't he? How awful!
His heart's desire had truly changed. He no longer wished to join his bigoted brethren in the south. Instead, he longed to create his own home -- and encourage Wara to join him. Would the Chosen One help him accomplish that? Or was he on his own?
"Problem," Luke announced, poking his head out of the tarp-pit.
"What now?" asked Vader.
He tossed a pile of folded tarps up. "There are only enough supplies here to make three tents. The game provided for us Players and our Companions, but didn't count on us picking up Chang and Wara."
"Centaurs are used to sleeping out in the open," Chang replied.
"What about Wara?" asked Jenny. "The tents the game provides are only big enough for one person."
"I suppose sharing is out, then," Wara said dejectedly, looking dreamily Luke's way. "I can always stay in unicorn form and sleep standing up outside."
"No need," Vader volunteered. "I will sleep beneath the stars tonight."
No one objected. Luke amused himself privately by modifying a popular joke -- where does a Dark Lord of the Sith sleep? Anywhere he wants.
"And where are you going?" Metria demanded as Vader strode away.
"For a walk," he replied calmly, disappearing into the trees.
Metria became very thoughtful, a bad sign. "I'm going to flout the area for monsters."
"What the area?" asked Chang.
"Disregard, ignore, inspect, patrol..."
"Scout," Jenny provided.
"Whatever." She popped out.
"Does she always speak like that?" asked Chang.
"As long as I've known her," Luke replied.
When he climbed out of the tarp-pit, he saw that some sort of sticky black residue had gotten on his hands and jumpsuit. He'd better scrub off. There was a river nearby. But after his close call this morning at the love spring, he'd best make sure it was safe. What if it turned out to be a stream of consciousness or a cripple creek?
"Jenny, can I borrow Sammy?" he asked.
"Go ahead," she offered.
"Sammy, find the nearest unenchanted body of water."
The cat bolted, and Luke followed him to the bank of the river. Once he was certain the water was safe, he stripped off his jumpsuit and jumped in. Sammy hissed in annoyance as Luke's splash soaked him, and he dashed off to find his mistress.
The water was pleasantly cool, and after washing off he took a moment to simply relax and enjoy a moment of serenity...
"Luke?"
His eyes shot open, and he saw Wara several meters downstream, also bathing.
"Wara!" he exclaimed.
"Sorry," she apologized. "I didn't see you here." But her admiring eyes wandering over his chest and torso suggested she wasn't altogether displeased with the situation.
"Um, Wara? I... don't think we should be here together... ah..."
"Why not? We're both of age. And I'm not wearing panties." She moved toward him. "And you're quite handsome."
"Wara, listen..."
"But I love you. And no one's watching." She reached out to embrace him.
He put his hands on her shoulders to keep her at arm's length. "Wara, look. You're beautiful. Make no mistake about it. But I can't summon the stork with a woman I don't love. It's not what I believe in."
She stared at him. "You don't love me? But you just said I'm beautiful!"
"There's more to it than that. Maybe not all of Mundania believes it, but I believe a man and a woman get together and have children because they love each other. I know you love me, but I don't love you in return. I'm sorry, but that's how it is."
Tears came to her eyes. "I still love you, Luke, but I hate your father! If he hadn't stopped you from drinking from the love spring, I wouldn't be in this mess!" She scrambled out of the river and ran away, sobbing.
"Good one, Skywalker," Luke mumbled sarcastically as he dried off and dressed. "You have such a way with women. It's a good sign when they run off crying."
Jenny was the only one at camp when he got back. She was tending the fire and nibbling on a handful of long, skinny berries. Luke sat next to her with an exasperated sigh.
"Strawberry?" she offered.
"Nah."
"Then something else?" She gestured at a pile of foodstuffs she'd gathered from various trees and bushes.
"Not hungry."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just broke Wara's heart, that's all."
She smiled apologetically. "When love springs are involved, heartbreak is inevitable."
They were silent a moment. At length Luke picked up an apple pie and chewed absently.
"Jenny," he said at last, "when Vader chose you as his Companion, what was your first reaction?"
"He was pretty frightening at first sight," she admitted. "I thought he was a demon before I remembered there are no demons in Mundania. But after he saved me and Sammy from the wormhole, I realized he wasn't dangerous."
"He saved you?"
"Uh-huh." Sammy rubbed up against her leg, and she scratched him under the chin. "That's how he was able to suspend his disbelief in Xanth. He believed I was real."
Luke wondered if he should ask Jenny about the river incident. Now seemed as good a time as any.
"What happened at the Gap while I was out?"
She licked her lips somewhat nervously. "It's hard for me to say it. I broke the Adult Conspiracy."
"You did it to save my life. I think it's understandable."
"Well... I don't know exactly what happened to you and the others after the wave hit us. The first thing I remember was the Gap Dragon pulling me out and taking me to the ledge where you and you fa -- you and Lord Vader were. He looked very upset."
Of course the Dark Lord had been upset. He'd been looking forward to turning Luke to the dark side. His death would have put a stop to those plans.
"He was kneeling beside you with his face on your chest, just holding you. It looked like he was crying."
Luke glanced up in shock. Crying?
"When I got to the ledge, he seemed to realize you were still alive. He started yelling, ordering me to kiss you back to life. When I reminded him about the Adult Conspiracy, he got angry with me and told me I was your only hope. He looked over my shoulder the whole time I was reviving you." She frowned. "Then he acted like he didn't even care. It was weird."
Luke stared into the fire. This was disturbing news. If Jenny was telling the truth... then Vader must truly be his father.
But what of all he'd been taught? Hadn't Vader betrayed and murdered his father? Was Anakin Skywalker an invention of Obi-wan? No, pre-Empire records salvaged by the Alliance proved his existence.
Then it hit him.
"Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader are one and the same."
"What?" Jenny asked.
"I had a good friend named Obi-wan Kenobi," Luke explained. "He told me he had two students, Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader. According to him, Vader betrayed and murdered my father. For years I believed my father was once a Jedi Knight. Then a few weeks ago I met Vader on a planet called Bespin. We fought... and I lost my hand."
She looked at his arms. "But you still have two hands."
He rolled back his sleeve to expose the metallic band where the bionic components of his synthetic hand met flesh.
"Wow!" she marveled, taking his hand in hers and inspecting it carefully. "I had no idea Mundanian machines were this good!"
"Don't let that fool you," Luke cautioned. "It was still traumatic losing it. But even worse than that was learning that Obi-wan had lied to me, that Vader was my father. All I had believed to be truth was shattered. I didn't know who to believe." He stuffed the last bite of pie crust into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed. "But maybe Obi-wan wasn't lying after all. Maybe my father is Anakin Skywalker -- AND Darth Vader."
"So you've settled it," Jenny said happily. "Do you feel better now?"
"Not really," Luke confessed. "I'm still confused. If he's Anakin and Vader, why did he become evil? What happened that made him go to the dark side? And who is my mother? Vader said she died. But that can't be all to her story."
Jenny smiled. "Talk to him."
He looked at her as if she'd just suggested he go jump headlong into the Gap Chasm.
"Don't worry," she said with a laugh. "He's not as mean as he wants everyone to believe. Trust me."
He shrugged. "All right, I'll give it a shot." He wiped his hands off on his legs and stood. "What have I got to lose?"
"Good!" she cheered. "Are you going to track him down now? Sammy can help you."
"Nah. I'll find him and talk to him in the morning."
***
Vader seated himself on a log on the bank of the river, watching the waters slip by. The log was etched with writing as if someone had used it as a journal -- a captain's log -- and the plants bordering the river bore baked sweets instead of flowers or fruit -- hence its name, the With-A-Cookie River. Such sights failed to make any sort of impression on him, however. After spending three days in Xanth and seeing bizarre sight after bizarre sight, he was pretty much jaded against any more unusual occurrences.
Such as the one approaching right now.
"You look like you could use some pleasure, iron man."
A sultry woman stepped out of the brush, dressed from neck to foot in black leather that fit her body like a glove. An elegant black cloak trailed behind her, and a black steel mask concealed her features. She seated herself on the log beside him and gazed at him expectantly.
He chuckled. "Nice try, Metria."
"Curses," she grumped, assuming her usual form. "Foiled again."
"Why are you here?"
"Apart from seeing if you were up to summoning the stork, I was hoping to squeeze a few derails out of you."
"A few what?"
"Upsets, disasters, facts, trivia..."
"Details."
"Whatever. Will you tell me what happened the second time I went through the dreamcatcher?"
"That all depends. Will you tell me what you saw the second time I went through the dreamcatcher?"
She huffed. "We saw a glowing man. That's it. Don't even know who he was or why he showed up. Demon's honor."
Vader thought on that a moment. That could mean a number of things. Perhaps they had seen a fully healed version of himself. Or they had seen his ghost, meaning he would never again have a complete physical body. Or perhaps they had seen the ghost of a Jedi, meaning he had to renounce the dark side to be rid of the mask and armor. He wasn't sure.
"Well?" Metria demanded.
"Well what?"
"Aren't you going to tell me about my second trip through the portal?"
"Why should I?"
"You said if I told you about yours, you'd tell me about mine."
"I never said that. You only assumed it."
She hissed something that turned a nearby shoe tree into ash. "You're such a pain."
"Look who's talking."
"Oh-ho, someone's in a bad mood."
"You would be too, if you were thrust into a bizarre alternate reality without warning. The past few days have been a living hell for me. And frankly, I don't care to spend another day in Xanth. I simply want to complete the game and leave."
"Sounds like you could use a break." Her dress vanished. "Why don't you relax and take a moment to enjoy yourself?"
He hardly glanced at her. "Not interested."
"What's your problem?" she grumped, her dress reappearing. "At least your son acts halfway interested in my body. You, on the other hand, don't even care!"
"I'd meant to inquire about that. Why is it that you have such an effect on Luke yet don't even faze me?"
"Complaining about it, are we?"
"No. Simply curious."
She quirked her mouth to one side as she considered. "Could be that you're not the type who likes females."
He glared at her. "I have a son, Metria."
"Okay, so that's out. Could be that you're no longer capable of summoning the stork."
He continued to glare. "Don't go there."
"Fine. Maybe it's a game thing. After all, I'm not..."
"Not my Companion," Vader finished. "You've said that many times. But the goblins certainly seemed interested in you that first day, and they weren't even playing the game."
She thought some more, a task she probably didn't perform often. "Sometimes," she mused, "when a man loves a woman -- truly and deeply, of his own free will and not via love spring -- and that love continues to burn in him, it will grant him a measure of immunity against the natural wiles of a demoness or other attractive female."
That wasn't what he had hoped to hear.
"My guess is that Skycropper hasn't fallen in love with anyone yet. But I'd never guessed you to be the romantic sort."
He stared into the river, lost in his own emotions. No, he'd never been the romantic sort. He had been blunt about his feelings regarding the woman he loved, stating them in honest -- if laughably uneloquent -- terms to both her and Obi-wan. And there had been little time for romance after their wedding, what with the Clone Wars, the disintegration of the Republic... and his conversion.
"Ah, so there IS a woman in your life!" Metria crowed, becoming a rooster for a moment. "So who commands the affections of Crater?"
"Vader."
"Whatever."
"Her name is... was... Padme." His voice dropped to a whisper. "She died many years ago."
"Oh," she replied soberly. Despite being mischievous and emotionless, she knew where her limits were. "But you still love her."
"Yes," he admitted. "Though for a long time I have tried to deny it." He looked up into the alien nightscape. "When I became a Sith Lord, I tried to forget her. Stars, how I tried! I must have done an adequate job of hiding the memory of her, for my master would have destroyed me had he sensed I retained such emotions. Love and compassion are weaknesses in a Sith."
"And a demon," Metria added. "Go on."
"When I learned I had a son, I was determined to find him. I hoped to bring him to the dark side, an ally to our cause. What I didn't expect was for him to reawaken memories of his mother. There are painful memories among the joyous ones -- agonizingly painful. Perhaps that's why I tried to destroy him in our first encounter on the planet of Bespin. By killing him, I would cut off those recollections at the source."
"Judging by your bawlfest back at the river, I'd say you were never too keen on getting rid of Padme's melody."
"Her what?"
"Tune, song, jingle, reminiscence, thought, flashback..."
"Memory."
"Whatever."
"I hadn't expected the threat of losing Luke to affect me so. But he's all I have left of Padme. I don't want to lose him again. And the only way I can keep him is by converting him to the dark side. My master will kill him if he refuses to join our cause."
Metria grimaced. "Your master sounds worse than the demon leader Grossclout."
"I've never met Grossclout. But I'll take your word for it."
"Does Luke know how you feel?"
He snorted. "I doubt he even knows I'm capable of emotion."
"Then talk to him," she encouraged.
Vader curled his lip. "Do you not think he hates me enough already?"
"Trust me on this," Metria replied. "I may not know much about mortal affairs, but I know he should know these things."
"Very well." He stood. "I've nothing left to lose."
***
Chang picked his way through the forest, Wara's clothes bundled up beneath his arm. Just a few minutes ago he'd seen her bolt through the forest, obviously distraught and without a stitch of clothing on. Not that nudity was as big a deal in Xanth as it obviously was in Mundania, but if a male demon or party of goblins spotted Wara's body, she could be in great danger.
Whatever had happened to make her so upset? Had that Mundanian boy shunned her? True, he didn't love her, but he could have been more kind about it. She couldn't help that she loved him.
Wara lay sobbing in a thicket of blueberries. Chang approached and offered her the bundle.
"You left your clothing at the river," he explained.
"Oh." She paused in her sorrow long enough to accept her dress. "Thank you. Please don't look."
"Of course." He turned his back. Most human-stock breeds didn't appreciate someone else catching a glimpse of their panties.
"I'm done," she said at last.
"Come out of there," he urged, turning around. "The blueberry bushes are only making you more depressed."
"What's there to be happy about?" she moaned. "The man I love doesn't love me back."
"A difficult situation, I know. But wallowing in the blues won't help."
She stepped out of the thicket and seemed to brighten a bit. "I've never seen a pure-bred centaur before. Don't they mostly live in Centaur Isle?"
He winced. "I do not. I have a magic talent and was cast out some weeks ago. My mate and sons will have no more to do with me."
Her hands flew to her mouth. "I'm so sorry. You have as much reason to be upset as I do."
"Indeed. We both have people we love who want nothing to do with us."
"And we're both outcasts. You a magic centaur, I a werecorn. There's no place for us in Xanth."
"You know," he mused, "wouldn't it be something if we could create a place where all beings may live in peace? A refuge for all -- crossbreeds, magic-users, Mundanians, anyone. No one would be turned away, no matter how strange they were."
"That would be wonderful!" exclaimed Wara. "A paradise for outcasts."
"And not some mockery like Darius' village at Lake Eerie. Domination won't be the goal, but tolerance. We would encourage peace between all..."
"We?"
He stopped talking, suddenly embarrassed. "Sorry. Just got carried away."
She smiled. "You know, maybe your heart's desire has changed."
"Maybe it has," he admitted reluctantly. "Maybe it has." He decided to change the subject. "You know, you're a very attractive woman. If you could somehow combine your human and equine forms, you'd make a truly lovely centaur."
"Really?"
"Yes. You're a fine young woman, and Luke doesn't know what he's missing by turning his back on you."
She looked away. "Don't say that, please."
"Why not?"
"I already have one impossible romance to deal with," she moaned. "I don't need another." And she assumed her unicorn form and galloped away.
Now where had that come from? He'd just made a statement.
As he made his way back to camp, he realized he'd really grown fond of Wara. And that disturbed him. Centaurs as a race were adamantly against interspecies romance! At least, the centaurs of Centaur Isle were. Technically, he was no longer one of them. But once he found the Chosen One, he would rejoin them, wouldn't he? How awful!
His heart's desire had truly changed. He no longer wished to join his bigoted brethren in the south. Instead, he longed to create his own home -- and encourage Wara to join him. Would the Chosen One help him accomplish that? Or was he on his own?