Hiya dudes! This story takes place before, during and after the Jellicle ball (the one shown in the musical). First chapter is kinda short, but the next one will probably be a lot longer. Even so, please review, coz reviews make M21 very happy. Anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own CATS. If I did I'd live on my own island paradise.

Chapter 1. New kit on the Block

"Tag! You're it, Jemmi!" Etcetera squealed before sprinting over to a nearby old car and disappearing behind it. Jemima swung around to catch one of the others, only to find that Victoria, Electra, Pouncival and Tumblebrutus had followed Etci's example and retreated to every TV, refridgerator and pile of rubbish that offered refuge.

The only tag-able one left in the immediate vicinity was Quaxo. Quaxo was actually classified as a young tom now rather than a kitten, but hadn't completely grown out of his kittenish ways - at least not enough to play the occasional game of tag. Except he was kind of out of practise and wasn't as quick as his friends to scarper away once Jemima was tagged. Looking around wildly for a place to hide and not finding anywhere specific, he just ran in a general direction to the left - only to be cut across by a wickedly grinning Jemima who promptly tapped him on the shoulder before running off. "Remember, no magic, Quaxo!" she called over her shoulder.

Quaxo crossed his arms. "That's not fair, you guys know I haven't played in ages," he called out to the now empty area. It was true. Since the discovery of his magic, (which he had been forbidden to use except on special occasions for safety reasons) Quaxo had been spending a lot of time with Coricopat and Tantomile, learning to control them. There was no reply to his call. With a small "Hmph!" he stalked off to look for them.

Alonzo groaned from his spot atop an old wooden chair which he had been lying on, soaking up the sun and keeping an eye on the kits while they played. But it was a lot easier to kittensit when they were all in one place and not scattered all over the junkyard. He was at the height of comfort on his viewing spot and didn't really want to move away and locate them all. Besides, he thought, this perch was good for more than the fact that it was sunny. All he had to do was turn to the left a bit and he would have a perfect view of Cassandra. He did so now and got an unpleasant surprise to find that Bombalurina and Demeter, whom had been chatting animatedly with the pretty siamese not two minutes ago, were sitting alone and Cassandra had dissapeared.

Pouting slightly, he decided that sun was no longer a good enough reason to keep him there any more and he began to grudgingly get up, thinking that he might as well go look for the beastly kittens.

All thoughts of the kittens, however, were swept clean from his mind as he felt a sleek shape brush up against him.

"You were spying on me," Cassandra accused in a low, sultry voice as she lay down beside him.

"Wha...? No I wasn't!" Why did queens have to be so observant all the time?

"Yes you were," she contradicted.

"I - I wasn't spying. I was admiring," Alonzo said quite truthfully.

"Well then, I think I can forgive you for that," she purred.

Alonzo lay back down.


Quaxo poked around the different corners of the junkyard, looking for his missing playmates. There was no sign of any of them. It was as if they'd disappeared. And I'm the only one who can do that, he reasoned.

Just then a high-pitched giggle caught his ear. It came from around the old sofa which was just to his right. Quaxo grinned. Etcy, here I come, he thought and crouched down, slowly making his way over to the sofa. Narrowing his bright blue eyes, he bent his legs and pounced - right on top of a dark brown queen.

He and the queen both screamed as he came down on her. Being a small cat, Quaxo didn't exactly crush her, but she gasped with pain as they made contact, and he rolled off as quickly as he could to get a good look at her.

She was young, no older than him, he thought. She was a dark creamy brown colour with a brown and black striped face and dark, almost black eyes that were currently half closed and unfocused. Her fur was very sleek, rather like Cassandra's and reflected the sun perfectly, making it shine with radiance. All in all, she was a very beautiful young creature.

Quaxo noticed this, but didn't give himself time to dwell on it. He trotted over quickly from where he had rolled off and inspected the unfamiliar queen with a worried expression on his white face.

"Are you all right? I'm so sorry, I thought you were one of my friends. We were playing tag, see and Etcy usually giggles like that..."

"Oh, my leg. It's hurts so much!" the queen cried out in a raspy voice. It was then that Quaxo noticed that her leg was indeed bleeding. His eyes widened.

"Oh, Everlasting Cat, did I do that?" he cried.

"No - I fell - on my way here - on a piece of metal - please - need healer - " she gasped.

Quaxo didn't know what to do. Jennyanydots' car, which also served as the Jellicle Hospital, was a good way away from here and the little black cat couldn't just carry her all the way there. She obviously couldn't walk in her condition and he didn't want to leave her for fear she might die in his absence.

He was considering using his magic to levitate her through the air when a familiar voice floated from around the corner.

"Quaxo, where are you? Honestly, this is tag, not hide and seek." The real Etcy poked her head over the top of the sofa. Her mischevious green eyes widened when she saw the brown queen. "Who's that?"

"I don't know, but she's hurt. Go and get someone to help take her to Jenny and Jelly. Hurry!"

Etcetera nodded and was off like a flash of white, brown and orange. About thirty seconds later she returned with the majority of the junkyard at her back. Not being one for subtlety, the second youngest queenkit had gone to where the general population of the tribe was playing, talking and/or sunbaking and yelled out that Quaxo had killed a pretty queen and he needed help. As a result, Munkustrap, Demeter, Bombalurina, Jennyanydots, Jellylorum, Skimbleshanks, Asparagus Jr., Rum Tum Tugger, Jemima, Tumblebrutus, Plato, Pouncival, Victoria, Electra, Admetas, Cassandra and Alonzo (who was feeling very sheepish that he had been making out rather than kittensitting) had followed her to where the two young cats were waiting.

"What is going on here? Quaxo what happened?" Muskustrap demanded.

Poor Quaxo was feeling more flustered by the minute and the fact that the whole junkyard was staring at him didn't help. "We were playing hide and seek and I was it and I heard a giggle and I thought it was Etcy and I pounced on her and it turned out to be this queen and she says she's hurt and needs a healer and please just help her!" he said very quickly and rather desperately.

Munkustrap looked like he was about to ask more but at that moment Jenny and Jelly came rushing foward. "Oh, the poor dear! Come on we must get her to the hospital immediately. You can interrogate her later, Munkustrap."

Munkustrap agreed. "Yes of course. Alonzo, Skimble," he pointed out the two cats closest to him. "Take her to the hospital for Jenny and Jelly." The two toms obeyed and picked up the young queen gently so as not to damage her further before hurying off to the old car. The rest of the Jellicles hurried after them. Jemima started to follow but as she did a thought occured to her. If the queen had been in great pain, why had she giggled?

OK, I know what you're thinking, this is another mary sue. Well it is, kinda, but with a twist. Just bear with me, k? The next chapter will be up as soon as possible and in the meantime, REVIEW!