A/n: Welcome to Anarchia. This is going to be a long series, a cats AU where things are a little bit... different. For all intents and purposes, this is the beginnning although I may write something that takes place before this in the timeline. For now, I'll let it speak for itself. Con-crit is greatly encouraged. Enjoy.

Anarchia – Viva La Revolution

Chapter 1 - Rebellion

"Addy. Addy! Open the damn door, will you?" An insistent whisper carried through the kitchen from the open window. Admetus looked up from his half-finished meal to see a silhouette of a cat that he recognised waving frantically at him from outside. He jumped up quickly, almost knocking his water glass over in his haste to get to the back door.

"Mac? What's up?" he asked, opening the door fully once he was sure it was Macavity. The ginger tom placed a finger to his lips and glanced over his shoulder for a second before ducking into the house without invitation. Now really confused, Admetus closed the door again and waited to see what Macavity wanted.

"Is Plato here?"

"He's not back yet, he's due any minute. Why?"

"I need to talk to you both. But not here, just in case. Can you both meet me at one, in the park?"

"Uhm… sure, I guess we could." Admetus said uncertainly, he was not too keen on the idea of sneaking out again. They had come close to being caught the last time. The brown and white tom hated to think what would have happened if they had been, especially as he was still considered a kitten with his eighteenth birthday two months away.

"It's important Addy. Please, promise me you'll be there. You won't have to worry about getting caught. Not any more." Macavity assured him. He seemed desperate to tell Admetus something, and he'd already sparked the younger tom's curiosity.

"Okay, fine. We'll be there. But I wish you'd tell me what's going on."

"I can't. I wish I could, but not yet. Later, I'll explain everything once we're all together."

"Right." Admetus said, wishing he could know now. It wasn't often that Macavity avoided giving him answers and it bothered him. There was one other thing bothering Admetus. "Mac… what you said about not getting caught? I mean, Alonzo nearly got us the last time and… you know what would have happened. What if we get caught this time?"

"Try not to, but it won't matter after tonight. I promise, everything's going to be fine. I gotta run, I still need to talk to Jerrie and Teazer. In the park. At one."

"At one." Admetus agreed, opening the back door again. He watched the ginger tom run off through his back yard, shaking his head wondering aloud what was going on. Just then, he heard the front door close and slammed the back door shut, whipping around.

"Oh, bloody hell Plato, you nearly gave me a heart attack!" he gasped, leaning back against the door with a paw on his chest. His heart was pounding, he had thought for one panicked moment that it was Alonzo or Munkustrap and they'd heard everything.

"Sorry." Plato said uncertainly, "What's wrong? Why are you standing at the back door?" Admetus shook his head, walking through the open kitchen door into the open plan living and dining area to collapse on the sofa.

"Mac was here. He wants us to meet him later, in the park."

"Why?"

"He wouldn't say. I think it's something big, and he insisted it was important that we were there."

"But what about Al-"

Admetus cut his brother off quickly, "He said that wouldn't be a problem. Not anymore."

"You don't think he's… planning to do something?" Plato suggested tentatively.

"Like what? A rebellion? I'd say it's unlikely." Admetus said sceptically, "But I guess we'll find out. I promised we'd be there."

The brothers finished dinner and hung around waiting until it was a quarter to one in the morning. Then they left the small house they shared, going out the back door and climbing over the fence. It was fortunate that their back yard backed onto the border of the Junkyard. It was a large private housing estate on the edge of the city, so named because it was built on some sort of old landfill site a few years before the humans deserted the city. The two toms were grateful at least for the darkness, that gave them some cover. Neither brother had any desire to be caught, the consequences for sneaking out this late would be severe. Probably more so, since the hints Macavity had dropped suggested something that Munkustrap definitely wouldn't like.

They reached the park within ten minutes, relieved to find Macavity already there, waiting in a quiet corner well away from any foot traffic. Demeter was already there as well, lounging comfortably on a worn wooden bench. Both brother's noted how much more relaxed the gold queen seemed now that she was away from the Junkyard.

"You got here okay then?" Macavity said needlessly.

"Yup. We just waiting for Tugger, Jerrie and Teazer then?" Plato said, taking a seat next to Demeter while his brother perched on one of the armrests.

"Tugger's… not going to be here. He knows the deal, but he's not… he can't get involved. If both of us are missing… they'll suspect something. He won't say anything though. Jerrie and Teazer should be coming. I hope they manage to get here okay." The ginger tom appeared nervous, but there was also excitement there. Whatever it was he had in mind, it was going to be worth the trouble.

"Course they will, the only one better at escaping unnoticed is you, Mac." Admetus piped up, smiling slightly.

"Good point. I think that's them now." Macavity said, grinning as he watched two cat-shaped shadows running towards the small group.

"We're here. What's up, Mac?" Mungojerrie announced, leaning an elbow on Admetus' shoulder while his sister sat on the ground in front of Demeter.

"I was waiting for you to ask me that." Macavity began, still grinning widely. "I've got a plan. We're going to finish this once and for all. No more suffering, no more restrictions. It ends tomorrow. At dawn."

A stunned silence followed that pronouncement, all eyes staring at Macavity with utter disbelief. It seemed to go on forever until someone finally moved. Plato nudged his brother. "How's that for unlikely."

Admetus just laughed, "You were right Plato, he is planning a rebellion." This seemed to break the tension in the group, but there was still a feeling of nervousness among them.

"So what is the plan?" Rumpelteazer asked.

By six o'clock, the sun was starting to rise and the plan was set. Macavity's plan was very simple, and he still wasn't sure it would work but he couldn't think of an alternative that offered better odds. He had already decided it was time something was done and he just couldn't stand living like this any longer. Even if they did fail, he had a back up plan, which would ensure that his promise to Admetus and the others would still not be broken. However, if it did work it would benefit the whole tribe. The Jellicles did not deserve to live like this, Macavity wanted to give them the freedom they didn't realise they needed.

The small group of cats stood in front of the gate to the Junkyard. Macavity was in the lead, flanked by Plato and Admetus on one side, Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer on the other and Demeter behind them. They did not bother hiding anymore, there was no need to. No matter what happened, they would never need to hide again. Macavity stepped forward, opening the gate and leading the small group into the Junkyard.

The small group walked forward, along the main street of the estate. Many of the cats were up and about now, and the few that were outside their homes watched the group, muttering to each other. They all had the same question. What was going on?

Macavity's group ignored the mutterings and walked on. They were headed straight for the largest house in the compound, located in the center. This was where Deuteronomy lived, along with his son Munkustrap. This was where it all began and where it would all end.

"What is going on?" A voice demanded before they could reach the house. Every one of them knew that voice and sure enough, Alonzo stepped out in front of them. "Where have you lot been? There's going to be trouble for this, when Munkustrap finds out." He stepped up to Macavity, the scowl on his face indicating that he meant business.

"I was really rather depending on that." Macavity drawled. If he was intimidated by the patched tom, he wasn't showing it. Admetus and Plato shared a look, it was all they needed to do to understand each other. The slightest of nods from Macavity went unnoticed by the black and white tom. The two brothers pounced suddenly, each going for one of Alonzo's arms and forcing him to the ground.

It was a struggle but they succeeded. The growls, threats and curses that issued from Alonzo as he attempted to resist the restraint had gathered a crowd. Most of the adult Jellicles had assembled in the street, watching in horror. Jennyanydots was heard to shout, telling her two oldest sons to let Alonzo go. They ignored her. They couldn't back out now.

"What are you playing at now, Macavity?" Another voice, another question. It was Munkustrap, with Old Deuteronomy behind him. Finally, they'd arrived on the scene.

"This is no game, brother. We've had enough. These cats… we deserve freedom. To say what we want, do what we want, live how we want. You need to understand that." Macavity said, projecting his voice now so that there was no mistaking what he was saying.

"What are you talking abou-" Munkustrap's scathing reply was cut off by his father.

"Macavity. Clearly we have a problem here, and I cannot say I understand what you are getting at."

"Of course you do, father," the last word was spat with contempt, "You know exactly what I'm talking about. It's a miracle no-one's ever done this before, but I'm happy to be the first."

Deuteronomy kept his expression passive, staring at his oldest son with the same calm gaze. "I don't understand Macavity, do you have a problem with me? Or with the tribe?."

"The problem with this tribe is pretending that there is no problem. Or perhaps the rest of you just don't see what's really going on here. You have all these rules and traditions, that are supposed to protect us. I hate to tell you this, but there's an inherent flaw in your system that we really need protecting from." The ginger tom explained, watching the silver tabby in front of him.

"There's nothing wrong with the system." Munkustrap interjected, glaring right back at the ginger tom. If Macavity had a reply to that, it was cut off by a loud yelp from Plato. All eyes turned to the three cats who had been struggling quietly in the background but were fast progressing to all out fighting. Plato had fallen back, nursing a deep scratch to his shoulder. Admetus was trying to restrain Alonzo again.

The tall silver tabby made to pounce, but Macavity moved like lightning to intercept. The fight evolved quickly into an all out brawl, with Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer jumping straight into the fray to help out. They were quickly followed by Skimbleshanks and Coricopat. It was an ideal distraction, and nobody spotted the small gold queen run off.

The battle was messy, but it was short. It wasn't long before the four rebellious toms were being restrained by the four Jellicle toms. It was a sight the likes of which no Jellicle had seen. Admetus was still struggling, but he couldn't do much with Alonzo holding both his hands behind his back. Plato was growling heavily, pushed against the ground by Coricopat. Skimbleshanks held a wriggling and swearing Mungojerrie in a bearhug and Munkustrap had Macavity by his throat. It was then that Deuteronomy realised he could not account for the two queens. He was sure Rumpelteazer had been there a second before but now she was nowhere to be seen. It was then he realised that this had been a long time coming, this was planned.

Macavity was panting, glaring up at his father with the purest hatred. He shook his head but gave no further protest. They were outnumbered. He caught the Rum Tum Tugger's eye for just a second but it was enough. In that moment, the two brothers had shared an accusation, an apology and a promise. This wouldn't be over.

"Macavity. I do not understand why you are doing this, but this display has both disgusted and disappointed me. You know the rules, and you understand that we cannot tolerate this sort of behaviour among our tribe."

"Of course not," Macavity spat scornfully, giving an impressive display of strength as he pulled his younger brother's paws from his throat and threw the silver tabby to the ground. Munkustrap was ready to grab for him again but Deuteronomy spoke before he could move.

"You have turned your back on your tribe, your family. Perhaps I should have expected this from you, but even if you are my son, there will be consequences for this."

"You'll have to catch us first," Macavity said with a smirk. He knew the game was up, but he had a contingency plan. However, he couldn't resist showing off, proving that every effort to suppress his magic during kitten-hood had gone to waste. With a cocky grin and a snap of his fingers, the three Jellicles restraining his comrades were forced to let go. They hadn't expected that.

In the few seconds it took for them to realise what had happened, the four rebels were already off and running towards the gate. Deuteronomy's calm gaze had hardened, yet he had not moved throughout the whole exchange.

"Leave them, let them go," he ordered. Munkustrap and Alonzo looked ready to go after them, but neither tom would disobey a direct order from the top.

"You're just going to let them go?" Munkustrap demanded incredulously.

"We shall not speak of this again. Those cats are no longer considered part of our tribe, and they shall not return." Deuteronomy announced. No Jellicle would be allowed to mention this incident to anyone and the kittens were never to be told. It would not do for them to get any ideas about disturbing the peace the Jellicles lived in. The crowd of cats had begun to dissipate, as they returned to their lives and pretended to forget what they had just witnessed, although every single one of them would remember this day for the rest of their lives.

Munkustrap dutifully followed Deuteronomy home, having paused only to give Alonzo a look. The patched tom knew what that meant and he slipped away with the crowd. He was to follow them, try to find out where the former Jellicles had gone. As far as the tribe were concerned, the matter was over with but it was far from finished. Munkustrap would see to that.