Bravest of Us All
I went back and saw the musical "Cats" recently (the movie version) and I gotta say, I forgot how amazing that musical is. And the choreography is outstanding. I just love the whole premise of it.
As usual, the gears in my head started turning and I came up with a fan fiction of my own for it.
My favorite character is Electra. She was always my favorite, even as a child. She may be a background character, but that's why I like her, she has so much potential. I became curious as to what a story with her would be, and I think I came up with a pretty good one.
Electra is content with just slipping into the background and letting others take the spotlight. Well, up to a point anyway. Severely lacking in confidence, and feeling a twinge of jealously towards her overly excited sister and gifted friends, the young queen cat starts to wonder what makes her special. Does she have a special trait that sets her apart from everyone else, or is just an ordinary Jellicle cat? When Macavity returns and threatens the life of a certain young tomcat she has come to love, Electra will soon discover the answer.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own "Cats" or any of its characters; I am merely exploring a possible story.
With that said, let's begin!
Who Am I
Just three more nights and the Jellicle Ball would arrive. Excited and eager for that joyful time, four young queen cats were sitting among the familiar broken tires of the local Junkyard.
"Cassandra is coming on the ship tonight," a pure white cat named Victoria said to the others. "Alonzo told me that he saw it in those large paper things that humans use."
"That's great," a red and black tabby cat named Jemima smiled. "We haven't seen her since last year. I wonder how much she's changed."
"You know Cassandra." Victoria replied. "Even though she was a kitten like us last year, she acted like one of the grown ups. I bet she hasn't changed a bit."
"Hey, Vicky!" a very hyper dilute tabby cat named Etcetera suddenly piped up. "Are you going to be doing the invitation to the Jellicle Ball again this year?! You the best dancer of us all!"
"Oh, I don't know about that." Victoria shook her head modestly. "But yes, Old Deuteronomy has asked me to dance the invitation for the ball."
"Awesome!" Etcetera squealed with delight. "And with Jemima's amazing singing, the night will be amazing! Especially when Rum Tum Tugger comes!"
"Oh, you still don't have a crush on him, do you?" Jemima sighed.
"Of course!" the little dilute tabby cat gave a huge smile. "You'll see, one day he will be mine!"
"Etcetera," Victoria calmly said, "you know that Bombalurina is Tugger's mate. Besides, you're a year older than you were last year. I think it's time you've moved on."
"I don't give up easily!" Etcetera simply replied with the same grin from before. "Rum Tum Tugger and I were meant to be together! And someday we will be!"
"That's…wishful thinking." Victoria said cautiously before slightly shifting the conversation away from Rum Tum Tugger. "But speaking of mates, there's a possibility that Plato and I will…be going to the Ball together."
"No way!" Etcetera squealed with surprise and happiness.
"You mean you two are actually getting together?!" Jemima smiled.
"I guess," Victoria smiled shyly, "I know we did a sort of mating dance last year. It wasn't anything at the time, but his humans moved next to me and my brother's and we got to see each other more often. He's sensitive, kind, and just a great tomcat."
"That's wonderful, Victoria!" Jemima said. "You and Plato are just perfect together!"
"What about you, Jemima?" Etcetera asked, excited. "Are you going to the Ball with anyone?"
"Actually," Jemima blushed slightly; "Pouncival and I have been seeing each other pretty often. He only lives down the block from my home. And last week, he asked me to go to the ball with him."
"Pouncival?!" Etcetera squeaked.
"Yeah, he's actually grown into a very mature tomcat."
"Does that mean you accepted his invitation?" Victoria eagerly asked.
"Yes," Jemima blushed a little more.
"That's great, Jemima!" the pure white cat smiled. "Congratulations!"
"Thanks, Victoria?" Jemima then quickly turned her attention to the tortoiseshell tabby cat lying down next to Etcetera. "What about you, Electra?"
"Huh?" Electra suddenly looked up at the sound of her name.
"Are you going to the Ball with anyone?" Jemima repeated her question.
"Just my sister." Electra simply answered.
"Oh," Jemima rubbed her paws together. "I just assumed that you…never mind, it's not important I guess. What is important is that we all gather for a night of celebration, right?"
"Yeah," Victoria agreed. "I wonder who Deuteronomy will send to the Heaviside Layer this year."
While the rest of the queen cats continued to talk about the upcoming events of the Jellicle Ball, Electra fell silent and let herself fade from the conversation.
Fading. Was that her only trait? She seemed to be the best at it out any of the Jellicle Cats. Well, maybe Exotica does it better than her since Electra at least participated in a good part of the dances. Exotica just seemed to enjoy watching the rest of the cats dance.
Either way, fading into the background unnoticeably and watch others dazzle in the spotlight was something Electra was used to doing. That wasn't to say that she liked it. She had to admit that there were times where it was useful, and there were other times where she kicked herself for being so shy. But there was a reason for it and Electra convinced herself that she knew what it was.
She had no special talent to offer to the Jellicle Clan.
So often she would compare herself to others of the tribe, desperately looking for something that would set her apart from them. However, each time she did that, she just got more and more miserable.
Victoria could dance circles around her.
She didn't have anything close to Jemima's heavenly voice.
Cassandra was way more gorgeous than she would ever be.
And even Electra's younger sister's outgoing and hyperactive energy was more than the tortoiseshell tabby cat could say.
Maybe that's why Electra preferred to fade into the background, even during a celebration: she felt overshadowed and overwhelmed by her elders and those she viewed as being amazingly gifted with talent. She still enjoyed being with her friends and dancing with them during the Jellicle Ball, but at the end of the night, she felt as if she could never catch up with them on anything.
Maybe that's why no tomcat had taken any notice of her.
The truth was that Electra longed to be noticed by a handsome tomcat. She wished to have someone special to walk beside and be a mate to for as long as they lived.
For the longest time, when she went through the phase of a young kitten transitioning into adolescence, she had a huge crush on Rum Tum Tugger. She thought that no other tomcat could compare to him. He had everything: charisma, good looks, and a handsome singing voice.
Well, that's what she thought at the time.
After a while, the crush slowly faded and eventually disappeared altogether. She still gave credit to the cocky tomcat, but only to where it was due. Besides, she soon realized that he would never go for someone like her.
But that didn't help anything. That just made Electra's self-esteem plummet even more. If someone like Rum Tum Tugger wouldn't take any notice of her, what would make any other tomcat take notice of her? What did she have to offer?
"Just who am I?" Electra solemnly thought to herself. "What's my special talent?"