Title: Roses Are
Red, Violets Are Mace
Authors: Layren and Durhelediel
Rating: G
Category: Humor
Summary: Ever wonder just how Mace Windu managed to get the only purple saber in
the entire Jedi Order?….
Dedication: To my wonderful husband, Tim, who took me on the trip to Stone
Mountain Georgia for the Fourth of July, where I got the inspiration for this
fic and special thanks for coming up with the title. I love you!
Special thanks to Dianethx who gave me the inspiration for a piece dialogue… I
got the inspiration from her fic, Betrayal. Thanks Diane!!!!
****
Mace Windu sighed as he approached his friend Qui-Gon Jinn. "You waiting on the
new shipment of crystals?" he asked, nonchalantly.
"Yes. I thought I might get myself a new one. This one I have now keeps trying
to short out," he muttered in disgust, pulling out the blackened handle of his
saber and showing it to his friend.
Mace rolled his eyes. "Well if you'd stop dropping it into every water source
you come into contact with, it might last longer."
Qui-Gon made a face at his friend. "I didn't drop it on purpose if you'll
recall. You pushed me."
Mace's face brightened. "Oh yes. The look on your face…" he chuckled as he
trailed off.
Qui-Gon frowned. "What are you doing here anyway? You don't need a new gem. You
just got one a year ago."
Mace's grin faded. "Oh, nothing much. Just…making sure nothing happens to the
new crystals," he said unconvincingly.
Qui-Gon gave his friend a hard look, but said nothing.
"Master, why is Master Windu here?" fourteen-year-old Obi-Wan Kenobi asked as he
stepped up next to his mentor.
Mace smiled at Obi-Wan. "Because young padawans might try to sneak off with more
than one crystal. I'm here on official Council orders to make sure every
apprentice gets one."
Obi-Wan frowned. "Then what is Master Gallia doing here? I thought the Council
said they would only have one member overseeing this."
Mace blanched. "Um… well.. I'm .. um.. overseeing this section. Yes. And she's
overseeing that section. The Council can change their minds you know. It's not
for you to question," he added huffily.
Obi-Wan stared at Mace, then shook his head deciding to keep silent for once.
Mace swallowed and knew that he'd have to be more careful. Just then he caught
sight of six Jedi approaching them with a hoversled between them. "There they
are!" He said excitedly.
Qui-Gon turned around to look. "Oh good. About time," he said, hurrying forward,
pushing his way through the crowd of apprentices.
Mace narrowed his eyes and hurried to catch up to his friend. As he pushed three
eight-year-old padawans to the floor, he hastily explained, " I need to check
the shipment."
"Master Windu has lost his mind," one of the padawans remarked matter-of-factly
to his friend.
"I wonder if he ever had it to start with," his friend offered, helping him
stand.
Mace frowned, but kept his concentration on the approaching hoversled. As it
came nearer, he saw glinting in the light, a lone amethyst crystal nestled
between two sapphires.
"Oh interesting. A purple one," Qui-Gon said excitedly, picking up the crystal
and examining it. "This is perfect for what I need."
Mace panicked. He had to have that crystal! He'd waited years to get a hold of a
purple crystal. They were the most rare of the gems used for lightsabers. He had
to get it away from Qui-Gon. "Hm," he said carefully. "Let me examine that to
make sure it's genuine."
Qui-Gon arched a brow. "Use the Force, Mace. Of course it's genuine. Unless the
Council has suddenly replaced the real gems with fake ones due to budget costs
again." He remarked dryly.
Mace let out an uneasy laugh. "Well you never know," he said weakly. "Still I'd
feel better if I could hold it to check it myself."
"I don't think so, Windu. You just want the only purple one," Qui-Gon said, his
voice sounding highly amused.
"No I do not!" He said, trying to sound affronted.
Acting on sudden impulse, Mace lowered his voice. "Well I shouldn't tell you
this but since you are my friend…" he trailed off.
Qui-Gon frowned. Somehow, he knew he would regret this. "Alright Mace. But I
want this crystal. I feel the Force is leading me to it."
Mace rolled his eyes and acted concerned. "Well, the Council has gotten word
that one of the crystals was influenced by the dark side. Because you feel such
attachment to this one, this purple crystal has got to be it. I mean look at it,
it's not like any of the others. I really should take it to Master Yoda for
examination." He held out his palm for the crystal.
Qui-Gon smirked. "A dark side rock?" He shook his head. In his opinion, Windu
had lost it. "Alright Mace. But I want it back if it checks out." He handed it
to his friend, reluctantly.
Mace hid his glee as the amethyst crystal lay in his palm. "Sure, Qui-Gon.
You've got first claim on it if it checks out." He looked around and saw his
friend was staring at something off in the distance and hastily snuck it into a
pocket on the inside of his robes. "I'd better…uh, get this to Master Yoda right
away," he said, taking a step away from his friend.
Qui-Gon tore his gaze away from watching the apprentices select their gems as
Mace left. "Master?" a young voice beside him spoke up. "What happened to the
purple crystal you had picked?"
Qui-Gon sighed, watching in wonder as he saw Mace Windu start sprinting down the
corridor as fast as he could go. "It's gone and I have the feeling I’m never
going to see it again," he said forlornly.
"Well," Obi-Wan mused, picking up a brilliantly shining emerald. "This one is
nice."
Qui-Gon stared at the emerald. "It's just like all the others, Padawan." He
sighed as he took the crystal from his apprentice and put a hand on the boy's
shoulder. He grinned. "That just means I have to make up for it by being
different with my personality instead."
"Oh no." Obi-Wan groaned and put a hand over his eyes.
THE END