Chapter 1- Love
Mistoffelees was sitting in the junkyard in his favorite spot,the rusty pipe where he had once watched Victoria dance alone in the moonlight. He, for lack of a better word, loved her even though he thought he had no chance with the princess of the Jellicle tribe. All of the toms who were much older and even better looking than him all admired the pure white queen. He was just a young, magical cat with powers he did not fully know how to use yet. His only real accomplishment he had ever acheived was that of bringing his leader,Old Deuteronomy, back after Macavity had kidnapped him at the last Jellicle Ball.
He was good friends with The Rum Tugger, who was like a brother to him, and Munkustrap who was second in command, like a father to him, and the leader of the tribe when Old Deuteronomy is away. Misto himself was only considered a young cat, neither an adult or a kitten, and he was the youngest tom in the tribe. He mostly hung out with the female kittens like Jemima, Etcetera, and Electra and he also spent a lot of time with Victoria and Rumpleteazer. Mistoffelees himself was the son of the notorious villain, Macavity, but he was nothing like his evil father. Misto had no idea who his mother might have been because he was found by Munkustrap when he was a very young kit. He had been abandoned in a remote part of the junkyard when he was only few weeks old. Munkustrap and Tugger had wondered along and seeing the poor kit out all alone in the pouring rain, took him back to the tribe where he was soon accepted by Old Deuteronomy. When Misto's magical powers had become apparent Tugger seemed to be very fascinated with him and so now he and Tugger were like brothers. Mistoffelees assumed he had gotten his powers form his villianious father but he had chosen to use his powers for good instead of evil.
The Jellicle Ball had ended only a few hours ago and they had sent the old, mistrusted cat, Grizabella, up to the Heavyside Layer after forgiving her. Misto did not think Tugger had fully forgiven her though because when everyone else finally touched after following Victoria's lead, he had stayed by himself, away from the crowd. Soon the few cats who did not normally live around the Junkyard like Bustopher Jones and The Rumpus Cat would be leaving the junkyard to go back to their homes. Skimble would also be heading off for the railway for a little while and he wouldn't be back for a few days. It was midday and a few cats were starting to get up and move aorund after resting for a little while after staying up all night for the Jellicle Ball. Misto noticed people crowding around Bustopher and Skimble as they were geting ready to leave. He padded over and nodded to Bustopher and hugged Skimble. When everyone had at last said their goodbyes, Bustopher and Skimble stood in front of Deuteronomy and he nodded to them, dismissing them. Skimble bounded off towards the railway while Bustopher headed off towards the town. When they were gone, the kittens,Victoria, and Rumpleteazer were shooed away by Tugger so they decided to start a play fight while a few cats turned to watch in , Pouncival, and Alonzo decided to start a small competiton and they were seeing who could so the best and most backflips and handstands. Mungojerrie, Cassandra, Bombalurina, Exotica, Coricopat, and Tantomile were watching the kittens play along with Munkustrap and Tugger. Demeter, Munkustrap's mate, was sitting alone up on the rafters above the rest of the tribe watching the rest of the tribe silently. Tugger would occasionally shout words of encouragement to the kittens which made them squeal with delight.
Munkustrap looked away from the kittens and saw Mistoffelees sitting on his own, away from the small group of Jellicles. He padded over to sit next to him, giving him a friendly smile. Munkustrap knew a lot about Misto but he did not know about his crush on Victoria, no one knew but Misto himself.
"Hey Misto is something wrong?" asked Munkustrap with a concerned look on his face.
"Not really I just really can't wait until next year's Jellicle Ball where hopefully I'll be chosen to come of age." he was not a lie he was looking foreward to the upcoming Jellicle Ball but that wasn't what was bothering him right now. Misto wanted to tell someone very badly about his crush on Victoria but he wasn't sure if he wanted to tell anyone because he didn't want everyone finding out. He should tell Munkustrap because he had been like a father to him just like Tugger had been like his older brother ever since they had both found him that one night about a year ago. While Misto was thinking, Munkustrap seemed to have noticed the contemplating look on his face.
"Yeah that's up to Old Deuteronomy not me. But I can tell something else is bothering you. I'm like your father and you can tell me anything you know that right?" asked Munkustrap in a bit of a concerned voice. Mistoffelees looked up at him and saw Munkustrap was looking at him sadly, waiting for him to answer. He didn't was to disappoint Munk, he was right, he should be able to tell him anything. Misto gave him a sad look in return and said, " Yeah I know I can tell you anything, you're like a father to me. But the problem is that I'm not sure I should tell anyone what's bothering me, its kind of personal."
Munkustrap gave him a small smile."Misto listen to me. If something is troubling you that much you need to tell someone about it, someone you can trust. You trust me don't you?"
"Yeah I trust you Munk its just........I dunno I just don't think I should tell anyone. It doesn't matter anyway.....he trailed off thinking 'She doesn't love me.'
"Come on Misto what harm would it do? I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to, Trust me." said Munkustrap, that look of sadness still in his eyes.
Mistoffelees hesitated. Should he tell him? He decided he would thinking 'What harm can it do if he doesn't tell anyone?'
"Well......." he began hesitantly, Munkustrap nodded telling him to continue," I've felt this way forquite a long time now but I didn't want to tell anyone because I don't want everyone finding out. But.....I - I like this queen and I really really like her but I don't think she likes me." he finshed sheepishly, looking down at the ground not sure if he wanted to see Munkustrap's reaction.
"Is this queen about your age?"asked Munkustrap. Mistoffelees nodded without even looking up. Munkustrap flicked Misto with his tail and he looked up to see him gazing towards the kittens, who were still playing.
"Well who is it then?" Munkustrap asked curiously, looking back at Mistoffelees for an answer. Misto hesitated for a second but finally whispered almost too faintly to hear, "Victoria."
Munkustrap looked at Mistoffelees, his expression unreadable and then looked back towards the kittens.
"Well at least you like her and not Jemima." he said with a faint grin. Misto's ears perked up."Why is it better than liking Jemima?"he asked very curious now.
"Well you see I'm allowed to tell you this because he doesn't care, but you see Alonzo has a bit of a crush on Jemima." Munkustrap answered with a grin. Mistoffelees also grinned at hearing this. Alonzo had always been friendly and flirty with the kittens but he seemed particularly friendly with Jemima. After giving a little chuckle Munkustrap's face suddenly turned serious again and he turned to Misto.
"Just remember Mistoffelees," he said in a serious tone, "That you can tell me anything no matter what it might be, if its bothering you, tell me ok? I just want you to be able to trust me completely because I'm here to help you. That's why Tugger and I saved you when you were a kit. We weren't about to just leave a helpless kit there alone. And after rescuing you both me and Tugger have grown more fond of you than any one else in the tribe. You're a good cat and nothing like your father. I know that you would do anyhting in your power to protect this tribe and never do anything to harm anyone in it."
Mistoffelees looked seriously up at Munkustrap, taking in all that he had said. It was all completely true. Munkusrap then smiled at him and held out his arms. Mistoffelees accepted his embrace, hugging him with a smile on his face knowing that finally someone else understood his problems, other than himself. Mistoffelees knew now that he didn't have to face this world alone, he had friends like Munkustrap and Tugger who would do anythng to help him, no matter what.
Munkustrap seemed pleased with all the help and advice he ahd given Mistoffelees, he seemed to be in a better mood with a big smile on his face. Misto looked up at him and then glanced at the kittens, asking if he should go join them. Munkustrap nodded with a grin and Misto bounded off excitedly towards them. A few of the girls looked up as he bounded over. Etcetera looked up at him and then pounced on his back playfully. He rolled over, throwing her off and was then tackled by Jemima and Teazer as well. Munkustrap came back over a joined the crowd around where the kits were playing, and sat down next to Tugger. When Mistoffelees had gotten Teazer and Jemima off of him, he jumped on Etcetera's back only to be bowled over by Victoria. He landed on his back whith Victoria over top of him, playfully swiping at him with her paws, her claws sheathed. She was smiling her beautiful smile and Misto forgot to fight back. He was in his own little world where the only thing that mattered was Victoria.
Then out of nowhere Etcetera,Teazer,Jemima,and Electra all jumped on top of Victoria and they all landed on Mistoffelees, knocking the breath out of him. Misto heard Tugger, Munkustrap, and the rest of the tribe roaring with laughter as Misto tried unsuccessfully to push them all off of 's tail was in his face, Jemima's paw was over his mouth, and Teazer's foot was on his eye. Taking pity on him, Tugger ran over and picked up Etcetera, Alonzo picked up Jemima, Mungojerrie picked up Teazer,and Munkustrap picked up Electra and they ran off with them, laughing at thier squeals of surprise. They set them down over by Tumblebrutus and Pouncival, who started to do backflips over them. Misto laughed and swiped Victoria's tail out of his face then got back on his paws while Victoria flicked him with her tail and ran off towards the others giggling happily with a beautiful smile on her face. Mistoffelees grinned and padded over to Munkustrap and Tugger in a much better mood now. Munkustrap gave him a knowing look and Tugger was grinning at the kits' squeals of delight every time Pounce and Tumble did a flip over them. Misto cuffed Munkustrap on the back of his head telling him to keep his mouth shut and then gave him a quick hug and he purred with the delight of having so much fun in the play fight with Victoria, Teazer, and the kittens.
The mystical twins Coricopat and Tantomile soon padded off to the side of the junkyard to rest for the night. The sun was setting and everyone should be getting ready to sleep but the kits were too hyper and needed to be calmed down. Demeter, who had watched everything from above, slowly padded over to a corner of the junkyard to wait for her mate, Munkustrap. When Tumblebrutus, Mungojerrie and Pouncival headed off as well, the kittens padded over to Tugger to nuzzle him fondly while Bombalurina wached from a distance. Alonzo came over to help Munkustrap, Mistoffelees, and Tugger try to calm the kittens down. When Munkustrap made the announcement that Old Deuteronomy had headed off to the village and would be gone for a few days, the kittens finally seemed to be tired and they all curled up in a corner of the junkyard along with Rumpleteazer and Victoria. Tugger, with his fan club finally getting to sleep, curled up on the big tire in the front of the junkyard. Munkustrap then nodded to Mistoffelees, signaling for him to get to sleep as well. Misto nodded goodnight to both Munkustrap and Tugger and then padded over to the rusty pipe which was close to where the kittens had curled up to sleep. He settled down into the pipe and took one last look at the junkyard and saw Munkustrap and Alonzo checking on everyone to make sure they were safely asleep. Mistoffelees' eyes strayed towards where the kittens slept and the last thing he saw before he closed his eyes was the white queen, Victoria.