"Misto? There is one thing we haven't yet considered."
"What's that Tug?"
"How in the hell are we going to explain what's happened to you to the rest of the tribe?"
"I guess we'll just have to tell them we're trying. It's probably the least bizarre explanation for it. Plus, it'll give everyone a chance to adjust. Better they see me now before I start showing so they'll at least know that it did come about in the way it would for any other couple. Imagine the astonishment if I just started showing signs while everyone thought I still had my tom parts! Everyone would think they were going crazy!" They couldn't help but burst out laughing at the thought.
"I'd kill to see Jenny's face as she tried to figure out what was wrong with you!" Tugger barely managed to get the words out through his laughter.
"And how would we explain THAT to the tribe? Oh I know! We could say-" Mistoffelees' laughter caught up with him and he burst out before he could finish. "We could say I was put into a trance at the Ball and I just magically became pregnant!" By this point they were both gasping for breath and clutching their sides and it was quite a while before either of them could collect themselves.
"Misto, you know how you said we'd have to keep on trying if it didn't work already?"
"What about it?"
"Well I don't know about you but I always like to stack the odds when I'm gambling, and it seems to me the only way to increase our odds is to try as much as possible, so I was thinking maybe we-"
"Shut up and get on inside of me. Now."
When they'd completed their second attempt and the subsequent grooming they stood and prepared themselves for the inevitable onslaught of questions. It wasn't uncommon for Tugger's fan club to be waiting outside their den so they could catch him first thing in the morning. Mistoffelees would usually just leave him to them and take advantage of some quiet time to himself. He loved being with Tugger and he enjoyed the company of most of the jellicles, but he was solitary and introspective by nature so he did quite enjoy having time to be alone and practice his magic and dancing or simply sit and savor the sweet solitude. Something told him he wouldn't be getting much alone time for the next few days. He took Tugger's paw in his and nodded to him before they exited their den, ready to face the storm.
The traditional chorus of excited shouts of Tugger's name was cut short as the eyes of each one of his adoring fans' eyes widened and their jaws dropped to the ground. Pouncival kept blinking, as if the image before him would somehow change if he tried hard enough. Jemima looked as if she had seen a ghost and Etcetera even appeared to be on the verge of passing out.
"Obviously you've all noticed that Misto's had some work done, but it really isn't polite to stare. Personally, I would have told them to go a bit bigger in the chest area and do a little extra tucking here and there, but that's just me. I'd still give him a solid eight out of ten, though. Okay, maybe a seven and a half-" Tugger was interrupted by a not exactly gentle smack to the back of his head from his mate. "Okay! Okay! He's a ten!"
"And?"
"And his body is absolutely perfect the way it is."
"That's better."
"Wait, so what actually happened to you Misto?" asked Electra.
"Well, Tugger and I... We decided that we wanted to have kittens and, given that we're both toms, there were a few issues with that so I used my magic to make it possible."
"So are you a queen now?" asked Pouncival.
"Umm... technically? If you go purely by the, ahem, physical attributes, yes. But when I created the spell I created it so that my body would change back after the kittens are born and as you can tell, my neither my voice nor personality have been affected. So I guess the best answer to that is that I am a queen for the time being." He and Tugger answered a number of questions before Tugger finally sent his fan club on the way.
"I guess we should probably go and give my brother a head's up. Everlasting knows he'll certainly be hearing quite a bit about this."
"We should also see Victoria. I can't imagine her shock at finding out her brother is now her sister. Plus she'd never forgive me if she heard from someone else."
"Let's see her first then. I imagine Munk will be seeking us out the moment he hears about it, and I do rather enjoy seeing his face when he's both confused and cross."
"But didn't you just say we should warn him?"
"I've reconsidered. Why ruin the surprise?"
When they found Victoria, her reaction was similar to Etcetera's and Mistoffelees very nearly didn't make it in time to catch her before she fell. She asked the same questions the fan club had: what, how, why, was it permanent. At first she was more than a little skeptical of the whole thing, but as the conversation progressed she eventually warmed up to the idea.
"So when will you know if it worked?"
"Soon, hopefully. If it didn't we'll just keep trying until it does," said Mistoffelees.
"Thanks ever so much for putting that lovely image into my mind."
"You're qui-" Tugger was cut off by Mistoffelees' paw covering his mouth.
"Sorry about that Vic. Sometimes I wish I had a muzzle for him. Anyway, we should probably be going. We agreed that we'd try and get to everyone as quickly as possible so they'd have as much time as possible to adjust to all this."
After a bit of deliberation, they agreed they should go see Jenny next since she'd be best to talk to Mistoffelees about the changes he'd have to become accustomed to, as well as what to expect while expecting. Just as they were approaching her den, they heard a shout from somewhere in the yard.
"TUGGER!"
Tugger turned to Mistoffelees, his patented smirk gracing his face, and said, "I do believe my brother has just heard the news."
