Title: The End (11/11)
Rating: PG-13 for things not in this chapter
Warnings: There will be character deaths
Notes: This is it. The end. The end of the Ritzkin Arc, the finale, as it were. This is where choices are made, fates are decided, and Leviticus (modeled after the Godfather), finally shows his face.
There will be an epilogue.
You really should read the Ritzkin Arc in order to understand what's going on. I know it's long. Bear with me…
I do not own Cats…
The End
It was all supposed to be a dream, a horrible dream. Munkustrap was supposed to wake up, alone in his den, and find that the Monniks were gone, Tugger was fine, and Deuteronomy wasn't dead. Instead, Munkustrap woke up in the makeshift den with Demeter curled up at his side. He managed a weak smile. That was the one part he didn't mind about all of this. Demeter was beautiful. So beautiful.
Munkustrap woke Demeter with a kiss, and she smiled at him, a shy but pleased expression. Munkustrap relaxed. He had been so afraid that mating with her so soon after Macavity would be a huge mistake. Demeter had insisted she was fine, darkly muttering something about how it wasn't the first time Macavity had hurt her.
"I love you," Munkustrap murmured, cupping her face with one paw.
"Wait." Demeter reached up and unfastened the illusion collar (Munkustrap hadn't wanted to risk someone learning the truth while he slept). "Say that again."
Munkustrap smiled and kissed Demeter. "I love you. So much. I've loved you for years. I will always love you."
Demeter kissed Munkustrap between each sentence, eventually just curling against his chest, purring, though tears were beginning to roll down her face again. "Oh Munkus, don't leave me!"
"I'll do my best," Munkustrap said, hugging her tightly. "I'll do everything I can to not die… but I can't make any promises. I have to ki-"
"Kinny!" Macavity's voice interrupted them, and Demeter gasped, hurriedly wrapping the collar back around Munkustrap's neck.
"Go in the corner and look scared," Munkustrap whispered. "Ruffle your fur! I love you…"
"I love you too," Demeter whispered, pressing herself as far away from Munkustrap as she could.
"Kinny, come on, or you are going to miss the show." Macavity crawled into the den and grinned. "Did you have fun with 'your' queen?"
"She's back there." Munkustrap gestured to Demeter, pushing his way past Macavity. "Come on, then. Let's see this show of yours."
"You come too," Macavity said, grabbing Demeter by the scruff of her neck. "All the Jellicles are invited…"
Macavity led the other two out of the den and into the clearing, where cats were gathering. The Jellicles were in the front, with the queens holding kittens close. The guardians (and all the rest of the adult toms, like Gus) were a little further up, their paws tied, as they knelt on the tire, growling at the Monniks. After shoving Demeter in with the rest of the Jellicles (and they all grabbed her, hugging her, pulling her into the center to protect her from Macavity), Macavity beckoned Munkustrap up onto the tire with him. "Come on," he muttered. "You get to help kill them…"
Leviticus was also on the tire, and Tugger's body was crumpled behind it. Munkustrap tried to subtly study his friend. Was that a breath? Was Tugger dead? Was he still alive? His face was covered in dried blood, and it was spattered across his coat. What had Leviticus done to him?
Munkustrap turned away from Tugger as Leviticus started to speak, giving some speech about how he'd decided that these Jellicle toms were no longer needed. Quaxo wasn't up here, Munkustrap noticed. He glanced over the crowd, his eyes catching Demeter in the crowd. Bombalurina was smelling her fur, and Demeter was whispering something into her ear. Bombalurina's eyes widened and she turned to look at Munkustrap. On Demeter's other side, Jellylorum was also investigating the scents in Demeter's fur.
Of course! Munkustrap had taken off the collar – Demeter had some of his scent on her! She was spreading the word… the queens would know that he was here, was going to help… and they'd help too. The way Bombalurina clenched her paw, the way Cassandra set her jaw… they wanted to fight. Munkustrap closed his eyes for a moment. They knew they should fight. The Jellicles would survive.
Opening his eyes, Munkustrap met Demeter's gaze one more time. I love you. Don't forget me…
As Leviticus closed his speech, Macavity stepped up, grabbing the back of Alonzo's head and yanking it back. Alonzo hissed. "Kinny, care to do the honors of the first kill?"
"I'd love to," Munkustrap answered, his voice sounding hollow. He pulled his arm back, as if he were about to slash Alonzo's throat open, but when he lashed forward, he shoved his magic out like Mistoffelees had taught him, pushing it into his brother. Macavity was right next to him. He couldn't possibly miss.
The ginger tom screamed, staggering back. Munkustrap dropped to his knees, clinging to the tire with his paws. His head was spinning, and he could feel the blood roaring in his ears. In front of him, Macavity was toppling backward, off the tire, crumpling like a rag doll in slow motion. Demeter screamed, but it wasn't pain. It was a battle cry. The Monniks screamed. Leviticus gave a shout… Munkustrap could smell magic. Mistoffelees? He couldn't see the tux. He couldn't see his own paws any more. Claws sunk into his back, and he shouted, but the pain quickly subsided. Much better. Munkustrap could smell blood. Was it his blood? Was it Tugger's blood he was smelling? There was a lot of blood around…