Don't own anything!
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"You're certain she wanted to see me?"
Mistoffelees and I lead a very nervous Tumblebrutus through the yard and out into the junk piles, both of us struggling to keep our mirth to ourselves.
"Tumble, she won't stop talking about you! Honestly, you'd think she was in love with you or something" I replied back, easily noticing the scarlet blush that burned underneath his fur.
"R-really?" His eye's brightened, sparkling with excitement. I tried so hard not to laugh.
We were cruel. Oh, so cruel. Yet I felt my heart tug slightly.
Misto nodded, picking up my comment smoothly.
"She looked really nervous, so be careful with her" He spoke like a true gentleman, his voice quiet but firm. Tumble nodded furiously.
"Oh, don't worry, I will!" I spotted the meeting point and motioned for Misto to stop.
"Well here it is. Etcetera will kill us if we join. Good luck! You better tell us what happens!" I called out as his trembling feet picked their way across the metal scraps and towards the enclosed alcove where Etcetera was waiting.
At least that's what he thought.
The moment he was out of sight Misto and I raced off, fur on edge and eye's alight. We stopped, somewhere within walking distance of the meeting spot, but out of earshot.
Misto burst out laughing.
"Did you see his face?"
I nodded grinning, but I felt my grin falter, hands fidgeting nervously. Misto picked up my movements immediately.
"Tory?" I glanced at him and bit my lip.
"Do you think we went too far? I mean, setting up a non-existent meeting with his crush? That's kind of cruel. Isn't it?"
Misto tilted his head ever so slightly.
"But it's payback. He does deserve it" He pointed out. I sighed and slowly nodded.
"I guess but … he's seriously in love with Etcetera. What happens if it was you and you were meeting your crush?" Misto looked away quickly, obscuring his eyes, his hand covering his mouth. He didn't reply and I sighed, sitting down on a fallen tire, my hand pressing against my chest in attempt to qualm my furiously beating heart.
This was a prank, a joke, revenge. Surely Tumble would understand?
"I'm just getting uptight. I don't usually plan pranks. It'll be fine. He'll understand" I murmured more to myself than anyone. Misto turned to look at me, eyes worried and mouth turned downwards. He sat down next to me, body stiff and rigid as he slowly, but gently placed an arm around my shoulders.
I stiffened at the action, but made no move to stop it. However my body stayed rigid and firm as thoughts flew through my mind.
After a long collection of silent musings I felt Misto apply pressure on my shoulder, standing up and offering me a hand to help.
"Come on, we should get home" I accepted the hand and followed Misto out but felt my steps pause as I passed the entrance to where Tumble was currently. I completely stopped as I looked at the path, mind whirling. Before I knew it my feet were pounding and I burst into the alcove, Tumble's eyes wide open as I burst, confessing everything.
"TumbleI'msosorry,Ecteteraisn'tcoming,itwasallaplan!,I'msorry,wedidn'tmeantotakeitthisfar,itwasajoke,you'llforgiveusright?Itwasreallycruelofus,I'msososorry,I'llmakeituptoyoujustdon'thateme!" I gasped for breath, taking in Tumbles open mouth and eyes that were practically popping from its sockets. I watched with careful, scared eyes when suddenly Tumble started making a gasping noise.
It took me a moment to realize he was chuckling, which turned into laughing until eventually he was completely on the ground rolling, his arms holding his stomach as he howled with laughter. I stood there in utter confusion, glancing at Misto who was standing behind me. He shrugged, clearly as perplexed as I was.
Eventually Tumble calmed down long enough to talk, still randomly erupting into chuckles every now and then.
"You two really got me, huh?" He laughed to himself, shaking his head and rubbing his stomach as stitches began to form. "I must've looked like such an idiot coming here" I nodded and he sighed, shaking his head again. "Ah, how embarrassing" He chuckled once more before getting to his feet, dusting his knees off and offering an arm to me.
"Shall we leave?" I glanced at his arm in complete bewilderment, raising an eyebrow at his slowly fading red face.
"You're not … angry?" Tumble gave a small, sincere grin and snorted.
"How could I be angry at such a well-planned prank? I admit, if you had left me there completely I might have been but your conscious can't take anything. One reason why we never let you in on Pounce and my secret plans" I huffed, taking his offered arm all the same.
"You guys were always so mean about not letting me in on your jokes" Misto fell in step on my other side, eyes warm as he smiled at the entire ordeal.
"So, guess you'll think twice before you decide to trick one of us next time?" He asked cheekily. Tumble grinned back.
"You bet. Ah man, wait till Pounce here's about this! He'll never let me live it down"
"Victoria!" My mind snapped back to reality, meeting at my mentor's disapproving eyes. Oleander shook her head, a hand delicately placed on her brow. "What is with you tonight? You're clearly not focused on the task at hand"
I blushed at her words, "I'll focus now, I promise" The snow white cat, however, held a hand out to stop me.
"You're clearly not going to get anything done tonight so you might as well tell me what it is" I opened my mouth to deny her offer but stopped myself.
There was no harm trying … what did I have to lose?
"Well…"
Tumble had been right about Pounce. The striped tom had in fact laughed for almost the entire afternoon, calming down for a few seconds before bursting into laughter again. However when he had finally calmed down, he was immediately all over Tumble.
"Tumble, they've finally announced the Talent Night!" Tumble's ear had pricked up at this, eyes alight and wide.
"Really?"
Etcetera and Jemima nodded, chittering in excitement.
"Yes! Which means, we have to plan something" The two toms high-fived while Misto leaned over to me, whispering in my ear.
"What's Talent Night?" Talent Night. My biggest fear and most hated night. I had to strain my muscles in an attempt to keep myself still and relaxed.
"It's basically a night that everyone gets to show off their talents. It's usually used to help plan out the roles of those old enough to participate in upcoming Jellicle Ball. However anyone can participate in the Talent Night. This year's going to be our first Jellicle Ball, so everyone's going to be trying extra hard this time"
I motioned to the cats in front at the mention of 'everyone'. Misto slowly nodded, a small smile appearing on his face.
"What are you planning?" Tumble and Pounce both stopped their fancy acrobatics while Jemima and Etcetera went quiet, eye's sympathetic as they all glanced at me nervously.
I sighed at their concern. "I usually don't … participate" My voice was quiet and Misto's eyes widened slightly, head cocked in confusion, "Why not?"
I fidgeted with my fingers giving a slight chuckle. "I'm not exactly talent material. Closest thing to talent I have is clumsiness" The other cats smiled at the joke. Misto however stayed serious.
"That's a lie. Everyone has a talent. You're not even that clumsy" Pounce chuckled at his words.
"You should've seen her when she was younger. She's a lot better nowadays" Tumble punched Pounce who rubbed his arm indignantly, giving him a 'what was that for?'
"So? Doesn't mean she can't join in!" I smiled at Misto's strong, expressive words and shrugged.
"Look, it doesn't bother me. Besides, I love watching everyone so I'm not fussed" I brightened then and turned towards the tuxedo tom, "What about you? What will you do?"
Misto shifted uncomfortably.
"Umm … I'm not sure …"
"Aww, what? Is it a surprise?" Etcetera asked. Misto shuffled his feet.
"Well, no…"
"So tell us"
"I'd rather not"
I zoned out, turning towards my own thoughts instead, ignoring Pounce's somewhat confused stare.
I usually went quiet during Talent Night time, but this time maybe, just maybe, I could participate. If I could have something organised in time. My heart soared at the prospect. What I would give to get a spot within the Jellicle Ball. To show them I was more than a pretty face, to prove those stuck-up queens wrong, and most of all to prove to myself that I could do it, that I was just as good as everyone else in the clan. It would be the biggest surprise in all of Jellicle history.
I finished talking and waited with baited breath for my mentor's answer. She studied me with intrigued eyes, hand held to her mouth as she pondered.
After what felt like an age she finally spoke.
"You'd like to participate?" I nodded eagerly, eyes begging. She was silent again. "Despite the limited amount of time we have to teach you a routine?" I nodded again.
"I'll practice every day, I promise! Just let me have this chance, please" My hands clutched my heart and I begged with every inch of my soul.
'Oh Everlasting Cat please, please, please …'
Oleander smiled gently, her eyes gazing down like a proud mother on their kitten.
"That's exactly what I wanted to hear" I froze.
She said yes.
I jumped on the beautiful queen, arms hugging her as I poured out thank-you after thank-you. She stiffened at the sudden contact but relaxed and gave a quick squeeze back.
"You're welcome my child, now stop dawdling! We have a lot of work to do" I grinned and nodded, throwing myself into my lessons. Talent Night couldn't come soon enough.
I stumbled home, yawning as I did. As I entered I saw my Dad, waiting in the corner.
"Oh h-(yawn)-i Dad" I gave him a tired smile.
"Hey, Tory. Do you want to come have a walk with me?" He looked down on me and I gave an unsure look.
"Sorry, Dad but I'm really tired. I think I'll go straight to bed" However as I moved to my room he stepped in front so I couldn't pass.
"I've hardly talked to you for weeks, Victoria. As your father, I think I have the right to spend time with you" His voice was firm, meaning there was no way out of this. I didn't bother arguing and sighed a 'fine' before following my father out into the night.
We walked together aimlessly for a few moments before Dad finally spoke up.
"You've been disappearing a lot at night, where have you been going?" He asked. I cringed. I had hoped he wouldn't bring the subject up so soon, but truthfully I was shocked at how long it had taken him. I first went for tactic A -Misto style- (vague answer).
"Oh, I've just been, you know, wandering, exploring, hanging out with my friends. Stuff like that" Munkustrap nodded and to my own surprise, didn't push the topic. I gaped at him. Not once in my entire life had he never asked for specifics and here he was accepting my vague answer. He caught my look and smiled.
"I understand why you're surprised. I've actually been talking with Demeter and she thinks I should give you more space, now that you're so close to becoming-of-age. Soon you'll be moving out and won't need me to look after you anymore" He explained.
The words were ice in my heart. Of course Dad spent heaps of time with Demeter, they loved each other (despite taking forever to realize). But this sudden talk of moving out and space and... it was then I realized what this all meant. Demeter would be Dad's mate soon. She'd move in, I'd move out, find my own place. Dad and Demeter could have a kitten maybe. Then they wouldn't need me and...!
I felt a tear escape my watery eyes and before I knew it, I had my head buried in my father's chest, arms around him as I sobbed. Munkustrap almost froze at how sudden it was but returned my embrace, stroking the top of my fur and whispering comforts in my ear. Just like when I was little. I eventually calmed down, and found we were now kneeling on the ground. I sniffed a bit, Munkustrap still rubbing my shoulder.
"Want to tell me what's wrong?" He asked gently.
I let it all out. I avoided his gaze the entire time, and burst into tears a few more times before I finished. It was all selfish thoughts, and I knew Dad was just going to laugh it off, tell me I was being silly and I had to grow up.
Instead I felt him place his paws, either side of my face, brushing away tears with his thumbs and lifted my head so that our eyes connected. He looked at me with all the seriousness in the world as he spoke.
"Victoria. I love you more than you will ever know and no one, not even Demeter, can replace you. You will always be my daughter. And whenever you need me, I'll always be there, right behind you. I want you to always remember that" He stared at me till I nodded, then brought me in for another hug.
"Truthfully, I'm scared too" he admitted, so quietly that my ears strained to hear him. I pulled out of the hug and gazed at him in wonder. My father was never scared.
"Why?" He smiled sadly at me.
"I never see you anymore and it's making me realize you're no longer a kitten and soon I'll have to hand you over to some tom. I don't think I'm ready to let go of you so soon. And truthfully, what I said earlier about giving you more space, my mind is currently in complete turmoil at not knowing where you are when you go out. Poor Demeter has to put up with me constantly worrying where you are whenever we're together" He sighed, still holding me and I smiled.
We were both scared of the same thing and the thought put me at ease. I hugged him again and spoke.
"Dad. I love you more than you will ever know" he laughed as I quoted him. "And I'm not ready to be handed over to a tom any time soon. And even if I was, you'd still hold a place in my heart that he will never get" His arms around me tightened and we sat there together silently, enjoying each other's presence. I sighed
"Look at us. What a messy pair of father and daughter we are" Munkustrap gave a loud chuckle and pulled back, smiling down at me.
"We certainly are. I can already imagine your mother gazing down at us, shaking her head and calling us both idiots" We both laughed and I looked at the stars in the sky, imagining she was one of them, watching us with smiling eyes.
"Was she beautiful, Daddy?" He smiled at my question and turned his gaze towards the sky also.
"The most beautiful Queen I ever met. Along with you and Demeter of course" I smiled and turned my gaze back to earth.
"I really am happy for you too, you know. I really love Demeter, and I think you two are perfect" I meowed and Munkustrap gazed at me fondly.
"I know, sweetie, I know."
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... I think Munkustrap is the father I've always wanted in this story. I think this chapter will be a personal favourite because of that scene
Right so, did a massive couple of days writing for this so that I will have time to post during my Trials.
Fear not, I will not leave this story for a year before deciding to update again. Like I happened to do with my other stories -_-'
I know, I know ... Bad Azy.
The next few chapters are all dandy and everything's perfect and la-de-da and happy...
I know, there are no big problems or conflicts, and I apologise.
I simply ask for your patince. The conflict is coming. It's ready, planned and gonna be big... hopefully.
I wrote the cute moment between Vic and Munkustrap ages ago, had it planned for a while now so I'm glad I could finally put it in.
So thankyou for hanging in there with me
Thanks again for the reviews and support, really appreciate it and hoped you enjoyed this chapter.
Xx A.s
