* Uhmmmm, a short little prologue to my first actual Fan Fiction. DON'T SAY ANYTHING THAT MIGHT POSIBLY MAYBE LOWER MY SELF ESTEEM. BECAUSE I KINDA NEED IT. PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESE. (And no the suspicious men are not agents from the matrix!)
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* * Mistoffelees at the time was browsing the bookshelf for a spell book. Jennyanydots had been scanning the medical den for mice. Alonzo had been cackling to himself behind the TSE-1. Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer had been returning from a heist. And Coricopat and Tantomile had been telling Jemima's fortune. It was a calm day, and no one had been worrying about Skimbleshanks (aka the Railway Cat, aka The Cat of the Railway Train).
Skimble had been pacing up and down the hallway of the sleeping car. It was mid morning, and all of the passengers were having a late breakfast. Skimbleshanks saw no reason why, just because they are on a train, they could sleep in and eat late. A train was a place of order. He checked his pocket watch. He missed Jenny. As much as he knew he was an essential part of the midnight rail, he didn't like being away from Tumble and Pounce and Jenny. Two men in sharp black suits and sunglasses covering their eyes walked into one of the little dens. The name written up on the door was… Actually, there was no name. Skimble had never seen that before, maybe they had only gotten the cabin the last night and the name plaque had not arrived yet, yes that was it, nothing would go wrong on this train. Not while he was around!
Skimble got worried at this. He had never had to assure himself that the train would run smoothly, he just knew.
He noticed the tiniest flaws that had not bothered him before. A painting in the hall was hung crooked, a bit of wallpaper was peeling, there were dead moths in the lamps, the heaters were dusty. Something inside him knew that this was all normal, but he was worried. He remembered the two men, he knew that nothing was wrong, he had nothing to worry about with the passengers. Yet, he was worried sick. Skimbleshanks remembered the first time he had set foot in the sleeping car; it had been dusty then as well. He had dragged his paw across the heater. Then took out a pocket hanky and wiped it off.
He nervously walked down the hall to the dining car. Something told him that something was wrong. As he crawled down the hall, several passerbies pointed at him, and several little girls patted him on the head. He rather enjoyed this. There were often cat-loving children on the train who would cause him to bypass his patrol and be petted. He didn't enjoy it today though. He tried to get away from the children's adoring hands. He eventually abandoned the disappointed children and headed for the next car. The car was full of seats and people with newspapers and laptop computers. Under the seats there were suitcases and coats. Skimble crawled under an empty one. he didn't normally do this. but he had felt like crawling into a hole. Hoping he wouldn't be spotted and then people would be confused because, "the sign said no animals" "Yes i had to leave my Ploofy at home, poor thing" and then the one of the workers would come and explain that Skimble was supposed to be there, and then he would have to go somewhere else to avoid looks from most of the passengers whose mornings he had made unpleasant.
Skimble lay down with his head on his paws. He decided he might as well patrol, that always made his day, more or less. He was crawling out from under the seat when someone set down a suitcase in front of him. The pack took up both spaces under seats. Skimble tried to go behind the seat, but his long brown tail was stuck to a zipper. He flinched as it pulled as he tried to get away. He was stuck.
Outside, the train was in the wilderness. Several passengers groaned as they suddenly lost internet. The train started rocking and bouncing and bumping around on the tracks. Several adults looked as though they were about to be sick. Young children were laughing and bouncing. Then the train went into a tunnel. Skimble froze. Trains in turbulence and tight tunnels (which this one was) were never a good combination. The train rocked to the left. A traumatic screeching sound broke out. Skimble frantically scratched at his ear, and winced as pain struck through his tail. The passengers covered their ears. A crash and boom followed, rattling the car, Skimble hit his head on the seat above him. The train stopped.
A conductor stepped into the alley, "Everyone, please remain calm. Leave all your luggage and come with me." He gestured to the door.
The passengers frantically stepped in line after him. Skimbleshanks dizzily saw their feet quickly walking away. An hour or so later, Skimbleshanks saw flame billowing up in the seats around him. He heard booms close by.
"No, wait…" He thought, "I have to-"
He was tired. He closed his eyes, and slept.
Chapter 2 coming…. Uhmmmm… Soon? Question mark?