Note: I'm very sorry for the delay in posting this chapter. What with school and all, there's so little "scope for the imagination". So, expect delays and slight turbulence. Anyway, enjoy, and my challenge still stands! (Disclaimer: Cats, don't own it, wish I did, oh well.)
Even was drawing closer. More and more Jellicles appeared. The older cats sat around to talk while the kittens sneaked around to make mischief. Two patchwork tomkits, Pouncival and Tumblebrutus, were busy tormenting Tugger's personal fan club. That is, until the tables were turned and the princesses chased them around the yard.
Munkustrap and Alonzo appeared through the back fence entrance to the yard. The black tabby tom was about to call out to Bella, when he noticed Demeter sitting next to her. He pretended to have some business on the other end of the yard, but his black-spattered companion caught him by the tail and practically dragged him over to the TSE 1.
"Look who it is, Demi," Rina nudged her sister pointedly.
"Hello, Alonzo, Munkustrap," the black and gold queen murmured, keeping her eyes down on her paws.
"The Jellicle Ball is coming up," Alonzo mentioned, then waited.
Munkus just looked up at Demi. The other tom sighed.
"Isn't there something you wanted to ask Demi?" he said slowly, as though explaining something to a young kitten.
"Huh?" said Munkus blankly.
Alonzo rolled his eyes.
"Oh!" the tabby tom came to himself again, "Demi, I was kinda wondering if maybe you'd like to go to the Ball with me?"
"I'd love to, Munkus!" Demi smiled, eyes shining.
"Well, how about you two go off and talk for a while?" Rina smoothly gave her sister a shove off the trunk.
Munkus and Demi looked at each other shyly, then walked slowly off.
"My work here is done," Alonzo grinned, bowing to the queens and saluting Skimble. He sauntered out of the yard.
Bella's gaze wandered to where the kittens sat around Jenny, listening to old Jellicle stories. Pouncival and Tumblebrutus made trouble while the old queen wasn't looking. Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer had joined the group, as well as Old Deuteronomy's youngest kits. Victoria was a snow-white princess, and Quaxo was a small golden-eyed tuxedo tom.
"Missing storytime, Bella?" Skimble smirked.
Bella grinned back at him. "You know I'll always be a kitten at heart. Come on, let's go listen."
"But we're too old for that kitten stuff," Rina groaned.
"We're never too old!" declared the green-eyed tom, "Let's go!"
The red queen reluctantly followed them over to sit behind the kittens. Jenny looked up at them with a smile.
"Hello, you three. Any story requests?"
"Would you sing my mother's song, Jenny?" Bella asked hopefully.
"I thought Jenny was your mother," piped Etcetera, the dreamsicle princess.
"She is, because she raised me," the silver queen explained, "But my actual mother died when I was younger than you."
Little Quaxo mewed sympathetically and rubbed his head on her paw.
"Who was she?" the October princess, Electra, asked.
"Her name was Chanceamberine," said Jenny, "She was the Jellicle Prima Donna, just like Bella is now."
Bella felt her face grow hot, and became very aware of the red queen sitting next to her. She preferred to forget her status as head queen, since she knew Rina wanted it so badly. Sensing her discomfort, Jenny continued.
"Anyway, this was her song:
"Chanceamberine is a tabby queen,
Her coat's black and brown,
Her eyes, gold-green,
She doesn't drink milk,
She will only drink cream,
She refuses your lap,
Unless you first let her be,
Chanceamberine is a curious queen,
For if any cat were,
It ought to be she.
Chanceamberine is a brave little queen,
She puts the Pollicles in their place,
And, on my honor, she's sometimes seen,
Chasing deer through the wood, in any case,
She's talented at vanishing, it seems,
Once in the closed, just asleep on the towels,
Then, from under your nose, she's gone missing for hours,
And no-one can tell just where she has been,
Chanceamberine's a Queen among queens,
For if any cat were,
Then it ought to be she."
As she finished, Skimble noticed Bella looking very pensive.
"You alright?" he asked quietly.
"I'm fine," replied Bella, "I just… I wish I had known her, and I wish I knew who my father was."
At that moment, Demeter came bolting over to them.
"Demi, what's wrong?" Rina queried.
"I don't know," the black and gold queen panted, "Alonzo came over yelling about someone being kitnapped, and Munkus told me to run back here and took off after him and Papageno."
"Speak of the devils, here they come!" Skimble looked to the entrance of the yard.
Alonzo, Papageno, and Munkustrap tore in at full speed. The tabby tom was carrying a small kitten in his mouth. Skidding to a halt next to Bella, he deposited the kitten gentle at her paws.
"Watch her," he told the sliver queen.
"Papageno, what's going on?" called Jellylorum, who had just arrived.
"Alonzo saw a box of orphaned kits that were being given away," the orange tom explained, "This one here was the only one left. Some henchcats showed up and tried to take her."
"But that means…" Jenny gasped.
"Macavity!" cried Demeter.
A collective shudder of horror ran through the Jellicles.
"I'm going to find Old Deuteronomy," Papageno announced, " Munkustrap is in charge until I get back."
The Jellicle Protector turned and loped off in the direction of the vicarage. The cats muttered nervously to each other. Macavity hadn't launched a direct attack in years!
"Alright, everyone," Munkus caught their attention, "For the time being, nobody should to anywhere alone if they can help it. The kittens that don't have homes yet will stay in the yard and we'll always have and least one tom and one queen staying with them. And above all – be careful. There's no knowing where he'll strike next."
Bella turned her attention to the pretty calico princess who was staring up at her with alarmingly beautiful eyes.
"Hello," the silver queen smiled gently, "I'm Grizabella, but you can just call me Bella. What's your name?"
"Jemima," the kitten answered in a quiet, sweet voice.
"A pretty name for a pretty lass," Skimble winked at her.
Jemima giggled.
"I'm Skimbleshanks. Skimble for short. Welcome to the Jellicle Junkyard!"
"What's all the ruckus?" the Rum Tum Tugger had made a surprisingly quiet entrance and appeared next to them.
"Macavity's up to his old tricks."
"Macavity?" a rare look of worry crossed Tugger's face. The he noticed the calico princess and the look was replaced by a roguish grin. "And who's this?"
"This is Jemima," Bella lowered her voice warningly, "Be nice, Tugger, or I swear…"
Tugger held up his paws innocently. "Why, Bella, I'm hurt!"
Bella scoffed and rolled her eyes.
The handsome tom bent down and kissed Jemima's paw, ignoring the annoyed look on the red queen's face, "The Rum Tum Tugger at your service, angel."
The kitten smiled shyly up at him.
"Alright, Tugger," Bella cut in, "Go find Munkus and make yourself useful for once. Go on, scat!"
With a wink for the princess and a smile for the queens, Tugger sauntered off to find his brother. The snow princess came over to Jemima.
"I'm Victoria, and that's my brother, Quaxo," she motioned to the tuxedo tomkit, "Do you want to play with us?"
"Can I?" the calico princess looked up at Bella.
"Go ahead, Jemima. Have fun!"
Victoria smiled. "Come on!"
The kittens all scampered off to start a game of tag, the danger of Macavity entirely forgotten.