HAT: I couldn't help but start posting this story. This is the last long term story I'm posting until one or two of my other long term stories are finished! Hope that you all enjoy! Please, for me, review at the end!

Disclaimer: I own nothing, but the plot and Lyon... and any other OCs I decide to throw in there.


Glass-green eyes open and look into sickeningly humor-filled yellow eyes. The orange tabby nearly shivers and glares at this ginger tom. Months. He's been captured and tortured by Macavity for months and no one has come to save him. The Railway Cat might as well be dead. The Napoleon of crime has whispered in his ear that he doesn't matter, that his tribe will never come to save him, and that it'd be better if he just succumbed to his will. Every time the orange tabby would snarl at him, strong will not allowing him to succumb, but today he's starting to break.

Dear Everlasting, why? He thinks.

"I've had enough fun with you," purrs the ginger cat as he snaps his fingers and the chains binding the brown tailed tom release him.

A marmalade heap lands on the ground and he looks up at the criminal and confusion floods through him. "W-why?"

"As I've said, I've had my fun with you. You can go back to your precious junkyard now."

"Is it another trick?"

"No, you're free to go. I'll escort you out myself." When his long time prisoner doesn't move he sighs. "Come on Skimble, let's go."

Skimble still doesn't move so his arm's grabbed roughly and he's lead up stairs to the ground floor. His ears flatten in pain as claws dig into his skin and he wonders what trickery this is. When they reach the exit he's thrown into the street and he looks back up at the one named Macavity. When the tom turns and walks back into the hideout Skimble feels a rush through his system. Finally, after months of torture he's finally free from all of that.

Thank you Everlasting.

With shaky legs he goes towards his home. He hasn't walked on his own in so long it feels like he's going to crumble to the ground at any second. He takes many breaks, but the adrenaline helps him keep moving. He's exhausted, but he's got to get home. Soon he catches sight of the gates and his heart soars. At last, he's home. He doesn't even want to question Macavity's motives, he just needs to get there. He catches sight of a crimson queen with a white vest, and black cheetah spots all over her. Her dark brown eyes warily watch him, but he knows that he's too far for her to see who he is.

"Bomba," Skimble calls with a hoarse voice.

The queen jolts and her eyes widen in surprise. "Who're you?"

Skimble's mere meters in front of her and she can clearly see him. Did Macavity change his looks? He looks down at himself and he sees that he's the same cat. He looks up at her and glass-green eyes fill with hurt and confusion. How could she forget him? Sure, it's been a few months, but she should know him. They'd known each other for so long and had so many memories together. He saved her, her sister, and their friend. How could she forget?

"Skimbleshanks... don't you remember me?"

She slowly shakes her head. "No..."

His chest squeezes and his throat fills with tears. "You were a slave... you, Deme, and Lonz. I saved you, remember?"

The scarlet queen backs away and her tail lashes. "How did you find that out? Who are you?!"

"Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat... I've been in the Jellicle Tribe since before you... I joined three years after Jenny, my sister."

Her eyes gain a touch of worry within that fear as she looks at the tom the fully believes what he's saying. "Come with me... I'll take you to some cats that'll help you."

"Who? Jenny?"

"No, some... magical cats."

"Cori and Tanto? Or Misto?" The orange tabby asked, tilting his head.

She seems to be very on edge now. He still follows her and actually takes the lead to go to the Mystic Twins' den before his knees give way. The crimson queen takes hold of his scruff and he nearly hisses and reminds her that he's older than her, but he lets it go and allows her to throw his arm over her shoulder and let her support him to the twins' den.. The two enter the warm, but dark den and Skimble notes how most of Coricopat's stuff isn't there anymore, mostly due to his moving in with his mate, Exotica. The two twins come in and warily watch the brown tailed tom who grins broadly at them.

"Hello," he says, glad to see the two as he's sat into a chair.. "Do you know why Bomba's acting funny?"

They each raise an eyebrow and share a look with each other before glancing at Bombalurina and finally landing on the cat of the railway train. "Come here... Skimble," Tantomile orders.

He walks forward and frowns. What's going on? Why're they so cautious around me?

Each lay a paw on his temples and he waits patiently before the two back away, staring at him wide eyed. "What?... what is it?"

"Macavity," the both of them whisper.

Unconsciously the glass-green eyed cat winces at the name. "Yes, I was there for months... waiting for all of you to rescue me."

Coricopat puts a strong paw on the orange shoulder. "Listen... you've been with him for years... over a decade, actually. You're not a thirty-seven year old tom, you're a twenty-two year old tom," the male mystic informs slowly.

"And you never lived here... the life you think you've lived... it never happened," Tantomile gently informs.

He shakes his head. "No... I lived here since I was a kit... Macavity took me a few months ago... you remember right? Right?" he demands, his breath becoming uneven and dangerously fast. "Please... tell me that I'm not crazy."

Tantomile grabs his face and has him look her in the eye. "Listen, Skimble... that life isn't yours... it never happened. Macavity was doing it so he could torture you even more... to make you know cats you've never met."

"How could it all be fake when it all felt so real? Your scents are the same, your looks, personalities... what about the pasts? The relationships?" he asks with a shaky voice.

"Shh, shh, it's alright," Coricopat assures, rubbing his back while Tantomile rubs his ears.

"What about the memories I had before Macavity?"

"Those are locked away," Coricopat murmurs, pausing at Skimble's shoulder blade to give s comforting scratch before continuing to run his paw from the shoulders to the top of the small of the back. "We'll help you. On the bright side, your name is real."

At least I have that, Skimble thinks as he rubs a paw through his tangled head fur, not caring how much it hurts when his fingers tear through the knots.

"Stop that." Glass-green eyes flicker to the crimson queen as she grabs his paw and brings it gently away from his head fur. "I don't know you... but I'll help you."

He smiles gratefully. "Thank you... so... Jenny... she isn't my sister?"

"No. You're not related to anyone in this junkyard," Coricopat informs.

Everything I know is a lie... he's been using his magic on my mind for so long... am I even really the way I am? He wonders, tears building up in his eyes before he's gently led to a bed. He closes his eyes, wanting to go back into that dream where all of these cats knew him... that'd be better than this.


HAT: I feel terrible! I put Skimble through so much BS!

Asparagus: You really do.

HAT: *pouts* No need to confirm it!

Asparagus: Your readers already have it confirmed!

HAT: That's not the point.

Asparagus: *rolls eyes* Review.

HAT: Pwease?