A/N: Second installment, yay! (ahem) Anyway, thanks to everyone who reviewed the first chapter, and sorry this one took so long to get here, but we're just finishing up exams this week, so it hasn't really been my best week. 'Nuff said.

Disclaimer: I don't own CATS, RUG and Andrew Lloyd Webber do. I don't own 'Nuff said, either, that belongs to Marvel Comics.

"Are you even listening to me, Lecty?"

"Hmm?" Electra pawed at her ear absently. "I'm sorry, Cettie, I was just thinking about something."

Etcetera pouted cutely and placed a paw around her friend's shoulder. "Is it something I should know about, maybe?"

The darker kitten laughed. "It's nothing big, Cettie. I just have to go thank someone. I'll see you later, okay?"

Etcetera nodded and trotted off to find Tumblebrutus.

Electra had to smile at that. Etcetera really did care about her, she knew, but she was so high-maintenance, it was hard to keep her pinned down for more than three seconds.

Quickly looking around, she ran the short distance to the pipe. She didn't think he had noticed, but Electra had seen the understanding look he gave her earlier that morning. It had felt as though Misto knew exactly what I felt like to be carelessly passed over and ignored, and was telling her to take heart. Electra supposed that it was some kind of magic allowing him to read her so adeptly. After all, he couldn't possibly know what it was like to be a nobody; he was the Magical Mr. Mistoffelees. Still, she owed him her thanks.

She stopped at the end of the pipe - the drape, which Misto usually left open, was down. That in itself was strange, but something didn't smell right. Cautiously sniffing the edges of the pipe, Electra nudged the drape aside and peered in. She had expected him to be sitting by the fire or something, but instead she found the magician lying face down on the floor. Rushing over to him, she placed one paw gingerly under his throat. The pulse was erratic and thready, and she thought she heard him mumbling something incoherent.

Electra stood where she was for a minute, rooted with panic. What had happened? What could she do? Whimpering softly in fear, she gently turned Misto over and ran out of the pipe, screaming at the top of her lungs for the one cat she thought capable of handling anything.

* * * *

Demeter sighed and turned over silently so she was face-to-face with her mate. Almost timidly, she traced the line of his shoulder as he lay beside her. They had been together since the Jellicle Ball last year, but sometimes Demeter still marveled that he had chosen her. She had always considered herself somewhat of a plain queen, and yet somehow, inexplicably, she had earned the love of the most wonderful tom in the tribe. It was a mystery to her. When she had first ventured into the Junkyard, torn and neurotic from her recent encounter with Macavity, he had taken her under his wing almost immediately. He helped Bombalurina comfort her when she sensed Macavity was near and was always there to protect her.

Smiling at his sleeping form, she nuzzled closer into his soft chest fur.

"Munkustrap! Munkustrap!"

Her ears pricked up at the sound. Extricating herself form her comfortable position, she ran out into the Junkyard clearing, where the sound was originating. Electra ran towards her, panicked and panting. "Munkustrap! Where's Munkustrap?"

Demeter wrapped her arms around the frightened kitten's shoulders in an unconscious attempt to calm her down. "Shh, El. What's wrong?"

The smaller cat was shaking all over and struggling valiantly to keep away the threatening tears. "It's Misto," she said haltingly. "Something's happened." Steadying her voice, she looked up imploringly at Demeter. "I have to see Munkustrap."

Wordlessly, Demeter nodded and motioned for Electra to stay put. She glided back to her mate and gently shook him awake. His eyes were still glassy from sleep, but as soon as the word 'emergency' left Demeter's mouth he was up like a shot, fully awake and aware.

"What's happened? Are you hurt?" he asked, gazing into her eyes concernedly.

She shook her head. "No, but Electra's frantic with worry. She said something was wrong with Mistoffelees." Seeing the familiar protective fear rise in his eyes, she added, "She's just outside, waiting."

They found the tabby kitten in the same place Demeter had left her, but now she was surrounded by a sea of questioning faces. Her cries had startled the cats that were in the Junkyard at the time and they relentlessly pressed her for answers. Electra almost cried in relief when she caught sight of them, and taking Munkustrap by the paw, led him away towards the pipe.

* * * *

He was falling. He hadn't been aware of the fact that he had fallen, but his surroundings - whatever they were - kept rushing upwards. Now and then he caught sight of the stars shooting past. He reached out to them, but they evaded his grasp, leaving him alone in the dark. As his guardians deserted him, his body felt leaden and he felt himself falling faster in the blackness. His body slammed against the hard ground, and he tasted the blood in his mouth as a silvery voice called out from the night: The hour is come.

What? Painfully pulling himself up, he noticed a shadowy figure padding silently towards him. As the figure came closer, he recognized the ginger markings and his eyes widened involuntarily. Macavity laughed coldly and locked eyes with the younger cat. "Does it really surprise you so?"

"What do you want with me?!" he hissed.

The ginger cat's lips curled into a sneer as he replied. "I've already taken what I want." Crouching down close to the ground, he swished his tail back and forth as if to pounce.

His prey looked around with wide staring eyes, trying in his panic to find some escape. Macavity watched as he started to run into the alley, then his back arched and his face contorted in a scream as his chest burst into flame.

* * * *

His eyes flew open and he jerked up with a startled gasp and immediately felt someone's arms fly around him comfortingly. Electra looked up from where her face was buried in his chest and smiled encouragingly through her tears. "Welcome back, Misto." When he failed to make a response, she pulled away with a murmured 'sorry' and stared at the floor.

Misto mentally slapped himself for his idiocy. Here was one of his friends trying to make him feel better and he couldn't even show any emotion. Feeling like a fool, he smiled at her and held her close to reassure her. Then he remembered the reason she had been there in the first place. He looked from Demeter to Munkustrap, silently demanding an explanation. It was Demeter who spoke first. "She came running up to us frightened out of her head, poor thing, and led us here." She didn't have to finish the sentence. Misto turned his head down, trying to block out the images still swirling around in his brain.

He frowned slightly. "Was there any trace of anyone else nearby?"

The older queen shook her head, puzzled. "Only Electra."

The kitten, upon hearing her name, glanced up from her position in Misto's arms. "What happened?"

Mistoffelees was only able to look at her and give what he hoped was reassurance with his eyes, but he had to tell at least part of the truth. "I'm not sure, 'Lecty, but I'll feel a lot better after I talk to Tant and Corico." He got up shakily and started to leave, but Munkustrap's restraining paw on his shoulder stopped him.

"If you think I'm letting you go anywhere alone, you're not half so clever as I thought you were."

The tuxedo managed a small grin. "I'm not that stupid, Munk," he replied. "But don't you think it'd be just a little suspicious if you suddenly shadowed my every move?"

Electra grimaced. "Actually, it wouldn't bring many more cats flocking than are already waiting outside."

"You're kidding me. I don't even know what in Heaviside's name is going on here and they've practically called a meeting?"

"Not quite so bad as that," Munkustrap put in quickly. "Alonzo's out there, and if he's following my orders he'll have sent everyone home by now." His eyes twinkled at the younger cat. "Somehow I thought you might not be in the mood to be completely open until you can tell me with certainty what's going on."

Misto looked at him in amusement. "All that inferred without a word from me? Are you sure you don't have some latent psychic ability, my friend?"

"Definitely not," Demeter said firmly. "One magician and two psychics are enough for any tribe," she purred, nuzzling her mate briefly. "Now," she added, "we'll leave you to look after Misto, 'Lecty." She ignored the glare this earned her from the magical cat. "Don't go too far." Demeter pulled the Jellicle Protector out with her for a catnap.

Once they had gone, Misto turned back to Electra, the latter of which gazed almost shyly up at him. "What time do you think it is, 'Lecty?" he asked quietly. "I kind of lost track."

"Not so far past noon," she replied. And then in answer to his unspoken question, she said, "I'm coming with you. I think Munk's right on this, Misto. What if.whatever that was.happens again? I don't want you to be alone."

To her great relief, he smiled at her and motioned towards the exit. "Shall we?"

* * * *

Coricopat emerged from his meditation to find his twin staring off to her right with a thoughtful look on her face. "Tant?" He nuzzled her gently; it was understood between them that neither would look into the other's thoughts without express permission. Corico didn't have to read her mind, though, to sense that she was nervous about something.

Tantomile didn't move or make any outward signs, but she sent a telepathic message to her brother. He's coming, but something's not right. His aura feels off-centre and I can't place what it is.

Corico frowned. They had seen Mistoffelees depressed before, but rarely enough so to change the presentation of his aura. This had to be something more deeply rooted. Does he know what it is?

His sister mentally shook her head. I think that may be what he wants us to find out.

Oh joy, thought Corico sarcastically. He didn't mind his powers most of the time, and he liked the ability it gave him to help others. It just annoyed him that the only time another cat came to him or Tantomile was when they needed help. Sometimes he wished that they weren't taken so much for granted, but he never told his thoughts to anyone save his sister.

Misto and Electra walked up just as he was finishing the thought. The magical cat's white face looked more drawn than usual, and Corico couldn't help noticing that every so often his paws would be drawn up to his head. Headaches? The last he'd heard Misto complain of that particular ailment, he had been completely new to his powers and just learning to control them. Curious indeed. Encouraged by a nod from Tantomile, their two visitors sat. Electra was fidgeting with her claws, looking nervously form Misto to the twins. Finally Tantomile signaled the beginning of the discussion.

"Corico and I understand you would like our help in some way. May I ask what you had in mind?"

Misto briefly told her about the vision, leaving out the part about Macavity.

Coricopat sat and listened to Misto's account, and sent his sister a suggestion. Read him. He might know more than he thinks he does.

Tantomile nodded. "If it's all right with you," she said to Misto, "I'd like to probe your mind a little. Perhaps we can find things you've forgotten that may be of use to us."

"If you think it'll help, please do," he replied. Tantomile placed one paw on her brother's shoulder and the other on Misto's forehead, and dived carefully in.

What she encountered first was a jumble of thoughts, but she could sense the object of her search not far away. As she started to make her way closer to it, however, it pulled away and began to fade into nothing. Surfacing from her trance bewildered, she said succinctly, "It's not there."

"What's not there?" Misto asked.

"Your magic. It's gone."