Chapter One : Dismissed!

A/N: This story is dedicated to Lady Sorciere, Eraman, Nekosoda, ducks-go-quack-00 and r1y2r3e4s. Well done, guys.

She picked her way through the Junkyard, turning her nose up at the skeletons of dead mice littered on the ground. "Someone really ought to clean up," she hissed under her breath, not even considering the notion that she could do it herself.

After all, she was Etcetera, the Jellicles' Best.

Giving a small yawn of boredom, she entered the main part of the Junkyard-the part with Munkustrap's mound of rubbish. There, she met with a friend atop the TSE1 and made herself comfortable on its warm hood.

"You know, Bombalurina," she sighed, sprawling out. "Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever tire of this life."

The saucy red queen shot Etcetera s glance. "I don't suppose that you will," she smirked. "Jellicles' Best. I never would have thought you'd rise this high up within our ranks."

Etcetera laughed coldly. "It goes to show that you should never underestimate anyone. No, not even squealing little kits."

Bombalurina gave a chiming laugh.

"Good morning, Etcetera, Bombalurina." Jemima joined the pair on the TSE1, lounging across the hood and soaking the sun in on her shiny calico fur. She turned her too-big eyes upon her friends and offered a smile.

"Jemima," Etcetera said. Bombalurina nodded in acknowledgement. Jemima yawned, daintily covering her mouth with a paw. No matter how tarnished their reputation, the Jellicles still liked to keep up appearances.

"You think we're getting much business today?" she questioned, sweeping her eyes across the Junkyard.

"Perhaps," Bombalurina replied lazily, her tail twitching. Etcetera smirked.

"Well, if it ain't three of my favorite queens," came the drawl of a tom. Etcetera glanced towards the tom who'd spoken, her lips twitching.

"We're all your favorites, Munkustrap," she pointed out.

He just chuckled. "You have been called for," he told her. "Pouncival asks for your attention." With that, he headed off on whatever underhanded business he was involved in.

"I wonder what he wants?" Etcetera mused, not bothering to get up.

"Perhaps he simply wants your company," Bombalurina suggested with a wink. "You know that he's interested in you."

Etcetera rolled her eyes. "Don't be stupid," she said. "Pouncival's involved with Victoria at the moment, remember?"

Jemima examined her claws, narrowing her eyes just slightly. Then, she looked up at Etcetera and shrugged. "So?"

"Ah." Etcetera quickly realized what her friend was getting at. "And you're saying he thinks he can balance the both of us out? He thinks he can have me and have Victoria at the same time? No chance!" With that, she laid her head down again.

"You're not even going to give him a chance?" Bombalurina asked, raising an eyebrow. Pouncival was quite a popular tom-the thought that Etcetera was so easily letting him slide from her paws both amused and confused her.

"No," Etcetera replied simply, sighing at the feel of the sun on her fur. The red queen just shrugged and dropped the matter.

"The thing is," Victoria muttered, grappling with the new collar she'd recently acquired, "He's losing interest, Deme. Pouncival. He's falling for my sister."

"They all do eventually." The golden queen sauntered over and fastened the collar around the white queen's neck. Victoria offered her friend a smile of thanks.

"It was fun while it lasted," Victoria sighed, wearily heading over to a mirror. An identical white queen stared coolly back at her from within the reflective surface, looking far too beautiful to even exist. Icy eyes, blindingly white fur without a single marking. She believed she was truly one of a kind, but even her unique and stunning appearance was nothing to Etcetera.

Etcetera; the Jellicles' Best.

"You're not still brooding about Etcetera, are you?" Demeter chuckled, moving over to stand beside her friend. In the mirror, another Demeter appeared beside the Victoria-reflection.

"Perhaps I am," Victoria said softly, gazing at the image of the two queens in the mirror.

"You've got to learn to move on," Demeter said, smoothing down Victoria's fur. "Etcetera rose up above you, Victoria-it's only the truth, so don't glare at me like that. She's far better suited to this new way of living than you are."

"None of us expected it," Victoria spat, eyes hard. "What was she but a pathetic kitten squealing at Tugger's feet? She was never prettier than me before. She was always that useless kitten."

"She isn't a kitten anymore, and neither are you. You've both changed."

"She far more so than I, it seems," Victoria said icily.

Demeter's lips twitched. "You have to admit that she really is quite a lovely sight, though."

Victoria sighed. "I only wish that wasn't true."

"Why isn't she here yet?" Pouncival glanced at the entrance to his den in the hope that Etcetera would grace the scene. Unfortunately, there was no sign of the beautiful queen.

"Perhaps she doesn't think that you're worthy," his companion chuckled.

"Admetus, lose the high and mighty attitude," Pouncival snapped. "You hardly have the position in this tribe to speak to me like that. You're scum on the ground to cats like me."

Admetus only let out another laugh. "Oh, Heaviside, Pouncival, don't make me laugh so much. I just might split my sides."

"And what do you find so funny?"

Admetus tilted his head to one side and gave Pouncival a long stare. "You've changed, Pouncival, you really have."

And so it was that Pouncival was forced to leave his den and approach Etcetera himself the following day. She was at her usual spot, flanked by her usual companions; on the TSE1 with Bombalurina and Jemima.

As soon as Pouncival came into view, Bombalurina giggled and nudged Etcetera with her elbow. Jemima raised an eyebrow and smirked at him. He just sighed.

"Etcetera, why didn't you come to me yesterday?" he called.

"You're going out with Victoria, aren't you? Oh, how are the two of you? What a cute couple you make!" Etcetera exclaimed in a sickly sweet voice, ignoring his question completely. Pouncival cringed.

"Need help, oh great sir Pouncival?" came a mutter beside Pouncival's ear.

"Oh, great Bast, Admetus, would you just leave me alone?" Pouncival spat.

"Mm…no, I find your company most amusing," Admetus drawled.

"Oh, Admetus! It's lovely to see you!" Etcetera purred. Her eyes contradicted her words-there was a deadly edge within those sky-blue orbs.

"Good to see you too, lovely Etcetera," Admetus simply smiled, bowing slightly to the queen.

Etcetera stared unblinkingly at him for a moment longer before turning to Bombalurina. "So, what do you have planned for tonight?"

"Wait! I'm still here! You didn't forget about me, did you?" Pouncival protested.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry," Etcetera murmured, glancing towards her claws and examining them. "Dismissed."

"Dismissed?"

"Yes." The pretty tabby sent him a cruel look before returning to her claws again. Spitting in distress, Pouncival backed away and ran back to his den.

"Ah! Pouncival…so, what was it you called me before?" Admetus followed Pouncival into his den, smiling snidely.

"…scum. Scum on the ground." Pouncival's eyes darkened.

"Yes, and so…I believe you have joined me in my scummy ways?" Admetus chuckled, clapping Pouncival on the back. "Welcome to the land of scum, Pouncival!"

"Oh, shut up and leave me alone," Pouncival growled, knowing that he wouldn't. Admetus had haunted him like a ghost ever since he'd gained his high status among the Jellicles. Now that Etcetera had dismissed him, he was back to the bottom again. He'd have to work his way back up.

"I wonder what Victoria will think of all this?" Admetus commented. Pouncival froze. If she discovered that he was of a lower rank than her, she would almost certainly get rid of him. After all, the only reason she'd gotten involved with him in the first place was that he was a higher rank than her.

"She'll…she'll move on," he gasped out.

"And then, you might find yourself lower than even me," Admetus chuckled darkly.

"Victoria, did you hear?"

Victoria glanced away from her mirror and saw Electra standing at the entrance of the den. Eyes that seemingly sparked with lightning, fierce yet beautiful face, dark, silky fur. Electra, rather like Etcetera, had changed in many ways since kitten-hood.

"Hear…what?" the white queen questioned warily.

"Etcetera dismissed another cat today," the dark queen chuckled with humor.

"Who?" Victoria's voice was sharp.

"Pouncival," Electra sighed with a shake of her head.

Victoria's eyes narrowed. "What a fool Etcetera is," she snarled. "Does she truly think she can send all of us down the ranks and leave only herself and her favored friends at the top? She's so fucking immature."

"Calm, Victoria," Electra soothed. "If one of her favored-or Bast forbid, the foolish girl herself-heard you speak as such, you would lose what little status you worked for."

"It's not as if I can rise much higher than where I'm at," Victoria said wearily, returning to her reflection. "Etcetera hates me, remember?"

Electra stared at the white queen for a very long time. "It's only karma, Victoria," she said finally, a sad smile on her lips.

A/N: Ooh, excitement. Don't worry, it doesn't stay this boring…I don't think? As you can see, the Jellicles are no longer equal. Some are better than others, and for once, Etcy's sitting on top. That's just in case you didn't understand? Haha. As always, I'm bringing the Vicki/Etcy rivalry into play. Gotta love 'em.

Please give me your ideas on pairings and events that will happen in the story. I'll almost certainly use them (if they're good). Tell me what you'd like to see! Reviewww.