For Ratmas this year since I don’t have a very big supply of rats, I’ve decided to finally do something I’ve been meaning to do for ages: rewriting a traditional fairytale from my country (Spain) to fit the Neath, and still sound like a fairytale.
The original tale is La Ratita Presumida. I wrote two endings, since the original one has several. So here it is, enjoy!
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Once upon a time, or maybe just last week, a tiny grey Vain Little Rat pressed her fuzzy cheek to her tiny broom and sighed dreamily. Out the window of the dusty furniture store, lacre fell mournfully from the sky.
“I am so lonely, so lonely.” She said. “Why can’t I find someone to marry so I can leave this job and have a nice, warm home?”
It was then when the sound of a cart broke her from her daydreams. The Coquettish Relicker and Mathilde were passing by and dozens of thin silky scraps of fabric hanged from the cart. Maybe with a pretty ribbon, suitors would start knocking at her door. Everyone would see how pretty she was! Our Vain Little Rat looked back at her employer, who was lying on a couch… ah yeah, was.
She went outside and climbed the cart, sitting next to Mathilde, who regarded her curiously.
“What do you want, child?”
“Can you give one of those ribbons? A small one?” the Vain Little Rat pleaded.
“For free, you mean? Why, my dear, the cold must be affecting your head!” exclaimed Mathilde.
“What do you want in exchange? I have no money.”
Mathilde scratched her ear pensively.
“Bring me the Duchess’ stirring spoon. It’s small and light, should be no trouble for a tiny girl like you.”
Just like that the Coquettish Relicker finished her business and was on her way, and the Vain Little Rat was back down and into the store, picking up her broom.
“Oh, how am I going to get that spoon? If one of those cats sees me, it will be my end! Maybe I don’t need a ribbon, yes, maybe I don’t need it.” She repeated to herself, unable to erase the image of the blue, golden-edged fabric from her mind.
“Maybe I could help,” said a purring voice.
She raised her head to find a black cat lazily lying on an armchair. She didn’t even see him enter, where had he come from?
“I was exiled from court, but I still have some friends in there. I could smuggle what you need for you.”
“What do you want in exchange?”
“Oh, just seeing a pretty little lady happy.”
She had her doubts but he jumped off the armchair and was gone into the shadows before she could open her mouth.
The next day, he appeared again, leaving a tiny silver spoon in front of her. The Vain Little Rat thanked him profusely. She didn’t have to wait much before she saw Mathilde again and got a lovely ribbon that she tied on her tail.
Then, one day, while she was raking lacre form the doorstep, a white crow stopped and cawed a few times to get her attention.
“Beautiful Lady Rat, you’re a mystery to be solved. Dare I ask for your hand in marriage so I could spend the rest of my days roaming the labyrinth of your dark eyes?”
She took a step back with a disgusted face.
“No, sir! Your voice is croaky and loud, you wouldn’t let me sleep! Also I know your type; I don’t even understand what you are telling me right now. I have no patience for philosophy, be gone!”
And so the crow, offended, flew away.
The next day, while the Little Rat was cleaning the wooden floors, she heard something on the back of the store. She went there to find a snake perched on top of a dusty mirror, staring at her.
“Beautiful Lady Rat, would you do me the honor of giving me your hand in marriage? I can show you lands beyond your imagination if you come with me.” He hissed.
“No, Mister Snake, sir. Your voice makes me nervous; I wouldn’t be able to sleep! Besides, my mother always told me to ware serpents. Be gone!”
And offended, the snake slithered back in his mirror like he never was there.
The last one to greet her was the cat, sat again on the armchair.
“Any luck, Little Lady?”
“No, Mister Black Cat. No luck.”
“Then, beautiful Lady Rat, may I ask your hand in marriage? I don’t have anything to offer here, but beyond these mirrors, I have lands and a mansion that could be yours if you become my wife.”
“Yes, Mister Black, your voice is soft and purring. And you helped me get this ribbon. I will marry you!”
The Vain Little Rat and the Black Cat got married the next day in a chapel that was probably too small for the Black Cat.
That same night, he showed her the way into one of the store mirrors. And they both ventured beyond.
The Vain Little Rat? She was never seen again, she’s probably enjoying her married life.
The Black Cat? He can be seen sometimes lazily lying on the rooftops, trying to get a piece of blue silk from between his fangs.
All was well and all manner of thing was well.
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GOOD ENDING VERSION
(like most fairytales, the original fairytale has a good ending version, I didn’t like it much so I rewrote it more heavily… I basically invented it. but the original ending sounded too bleak so here it is)
They stepped into the Marches, through a forest of black roses towards the… now no longer Black Cat but Black Panther’s Estate. On the way there, he stepped on a thorny bush. Crying out he lay on the floor, not being able to take one more step.
“Oh, my wife, please help me.” He pleaded.
“I will, I will. But I’ll need to get to the Estate before so I can heal your wound.”
With difficulty, he got up and led her to the mansion, dark and shimmering. Once they crossed the door, he collapsed on the ground again.
“Oh, my wife, please help me.” He repeated
“I will I will, but I’m so tired from the trip, can you take my things to our room?”
He got up, in pain, and crawled up the stairs with her things, while growling in agony. Then he descended the steps and sat at her feet.
“Oh, my wife, please help me.” He cried, desperately.
“I will, I will. But what will you do if I help you? You will eat me, I know. I’m not a silly little lady. This way, I can get you to do whatever I want and finally live a well-deserved luxurious married life. Maybe if you behave, one day I will help you with the thorn.”
“You’ve tricked me!” he roared.
The Vain Little Rat smiled.
“And what were you trying to do? Don’t worry my dear husband, all shall be well.”
And all was well and all manner of thing was well.