A/N: I will be attacking the reputations of no less than two, possibly three, well-loved Jellicles in this fic. Feel free to consider it an AU.

Disclaimer: Other than a couple OCs, the characters and settings belong to either T. S. Eliot, Andrew Lloyd Webber or whoever owns the rights to Cats. Which isn't me. Hence the Disclaimer.

Prologue

It had been his dream for as long as he could remember. Ever since he had found out that he was part Jellicle, he felt it had always been his right to walk with the tribe of Old Deuteronomy. And now, Mistoffelees stood before the wise Old Deuteronomy, waiting for the elderly cat to accept him into the tribe. The magical energy encased within his body was tingling more than usual with anticipation.

He had done his best tricks, performed his most surprising illusions and created his most eccentric confusions. And he could tell that the old Jellicle leader was impressed. He had even stood up and applauded when he had pulled Victoria, Jemima, Electra, Etcetera, Pouncival, Tumblebrutus, and Admetus out of Bustopher Jones's hat. His show was a complete success. He had to get in. There simply wasn't any reason not to admit him.

Old Deuteronomy rose and the quiet din of the gathering was silenced completely. Munkustrap stood by the old Jellicle's side. On the other side, Munkustrap's younger brother, the Rum Tum Tugger also stood. They were both there to support their Father.

"Tonight," Old Deuteronomy said in his loud, clear voice, "we are gathered here to debate the entrance of this young tom before us." He motioned towards Mistoffelees, sitting straight and proud. "I have taken in your opinions and judgments as you have given them, but, as it was with many of you, the ultimate decision is up to me."

Mistoffelees' grin wavered at that. Were there some among the tribe who didn't want him? Were they jealous of his abilities? He looked around those gathered. The kittens were smiling at him. His sponsor, Grizabella was looking at him with curiosity. There was a scheming look in the eyes of Rumpelteazer and Mungojerrie, but he could see no contempt. Who didn't want him in the tribe?

"And now," Old Deuteronomy said, "I must decline your request."

Mistoffelees was stunned. He was frozen. Shock filled his body as the words set in. How could this be? How could he be rejected? It wasn't possible. It had to be a trick. The trickster was being tricked. He opened his mouth to say something, but Old Deuteronomy continued, cutting him off.

"I am sorry," Old Deuteronomy said. "You truly are a gifted Jellicle. Your powers are quite remarkable. But they are also quite dangerous. I feel that such power is dangerous, and were it to get out of control, the results could be disastrous."

"I… I…" Mistoffelees stammered. "I have complete control over my powers. They will never be out of my control."

"I have little doubt of that," Old Deuteronomy said.

Mistoffelees was quiet for a moment as he contemplated this statement. "What are you saying?" he asked. "That you don't trust me?" Old Deuteronomy's silence was answer enough. "Give me a chance," Mistoffelees said. "Let me earn your trust. I would never do anything to hurt you or any of the Jellicles here."

"I am sorry," Old Deuteronomy said again. "But my decision is final."

Mistoffelees was stunned into silence. How could this be? How could he be denied his birth right as a Jellicle?

"How must I prove myself?" Mistoffelees asked. "What must I do?"

"There is nothing you can do," Old Deuteronomy said. "Not now. I have made my evaluation and it stands as such." Mistoffelees' ears sank. His posture drooped and his eyes closed in disappointment. "Feel free to stay with us till dawn," Old Deuteronomy said. "But then I must ask you to leave the Junkyard."

Mistoffelees stood up straight again and smiled as best he could. His ears perked and eyes glimmered with power. "I thank you for your hospitality," he said. "But I feel that if I am not a member of your Tribe, I should take my leave now."

He held out a paw and his body began to shimmer and fade. When he was gone, murmurs of disagreement filtered through the gathered Jellicles. Munkustrap held up his paws for silence.

"Old Deuteronomy has made his decision," he said. "And I am sure it was for the best."

"Besides," the Tugger said. "He left in high spirits."

After that, the group began to disperse. Not one of them had any idea that the magician's mood was nothing but another illusion.

Chapter 1: New Arrivals

Nine Months Later…

Bageera and Jazz walked down the street. So this was merry old England. Big Ben, West Minster Abbey, the Louvre… or was that France?

No matter, Bageera thought. "When do we get there?" he asked his companion.

Bageera was black with grayish blue down his chest. His long tail was tipped with more of the grayish blue. A dark red collar wrapped around his throat. His green eyes were flickering with the afternoon light.

"If our sources are correct," Jazz said, "and you know they are, then we should be coming up on it in another block or so."

Jazz was also black. In fact, she was almost identical to Bageera right down to the collar except that she was smaller. Her eyes, too, were different. While Bageera's were as green as grass, Jazz's were as blue as crystals.

"Are you sure they'll take to us?" Bageera asked. "I hear the leader is tough to please."

"True," Jazz said. "But we aren't trying to stay. We just want to look around."

"Okay," Bageera said. "But what do we tell them when they ask what we're looking for?"

"The truth, of course," Jazz said. "Do you have a reason why we should lie to them?"

"Not at the moment," Bageera said. "What if Old D has already left?"

"Sources say that a tom by the name of Munkustrap is in charge while Old Deuteronomy is away."

Bageera nodded and they walked on for a minute or two in silence.

"Who are they?" Bageera asked.

"Who?" Jazz asked. "The Jellicles?"

"No. Our sources," Bageera said. "Whenever we go out like this, we always say we have information from our sources. But who are they? How do they contact us? How did we get them?"

Jazz stopped and thought for a moment. "I don't know. We just have sources."

"But-"

"Shut up," Jazz said. "You'll get us in trouble."

They looked on ahead. The junkyard came into view and they began to walk faster.

The mysterious sources were right. Old Deuteronomy was gone, but the silver tabby known as Munkustrap was in charge. And after a little snooping around, they found his den.

Bageera gave the cupboard door three solid raps and stepped back. A very attractive queen swung the door open and looked out. She looked at the two visitors with alarm. New faces.

"Hello," Jazz said. "Is this the den of Munkustrap?"

"Yes," the queen said. "But he's resting right now."

"Right," Bageera said. "You had your Jellicle Ball last night. And he must have been hurt in the fight."

"How do you know that?" the queen asked, frowning.

"The way you hold your paws, one in the other," Bageera said. "And the slight crease of your brow. You're worried about something. Judging from the patterns in the dirt and blood over there," he gestured to the clearing in front of the old car, "I would have to say there was a rather nasty fight.

"Munkustrap is the Jellicle Protector here, yes?" the queen nodded. "So whatever fight there was, he had to have been involved. It's his duty.

"Now," he continued. "You share this den with Munkustrap, yes?" She nodded. "Therefore, you're either a close family member, like a sister, or you're his mate. Both of which would mean you would care about his wellbeing more than any other Jellicle would.

"The blood makes it clear that someone was injured. Add that to the fact that you are worried and care about Munkustrap's wellbeing," he shrugged. "The most likely answer is he was injured."

There was silence before Jazz said, "He has an eye for details."

The queen nodded in understanding before a thought crossed her mind. "Who are you?"

"Oh," Jazz said, embarrassed. "I'm Jazz. This is Bageera." She smiled.

"And you are?" Bageera asked.

"Demeter," the queen said.

"May we come in?" Jazz asked.

"Oh, sorry," Demeter said, slightly embarrassed.

She pushed the door open wider and the two Jellicles entered.

"What do you want with Munkustrap?" Demeter asked.

"That's a complicated story," Bageera said. "It would be best if we explained directly to Munkustrap."

"Explain what to me?"

A silver tabby came in from a different room. His eyes were half closed and it was clear he was tired. The ball must have taken a lot out of him. And Bageera noticed a slight limp. That, coupled with the stiff way he held his right arm, made it quite clear to Bageera that this tom had been in a fight, almost confirming his assumptions.

"Can we assume you are Munkustrap?" he asked.

"Yes," the silver tom said. After introductions, he asked, "What are you two doing here?"

"It's like this," Jazz said. "We're after Macavity."

Please Review and stay tuned for Chapter 2