Old Deuteronomy opened his mouth to sing.

Jellicle cats come out tonight
Jellicle cats come one, come all

The Jellicle moon is shining bright
Jellicles come to the
Jellicle Ball.

He waved his paws for others to join in. This was to be the moment of moments, the epicentre of dancing and excitement. Old Deuteronomy had foreseen this moment in his mind, yet his visions paled in comparison to the reality of seeing all of these beaming faces. The cats that surrounded him wanted this as much as he did, to finally be rid of the pain and suffering. This was the Jellicle Ball.

It was Alonzo who sang next, taking his cue from the elderly tom.

Jellicle cats are black and white
Jellicle cats are rather small

As all of the cats began taking to their feet, Victoria nudged Pouncival's shoulder. "Hi..." She whispered, blinking at him. "Come on." Not knowing exactly what to say to this tom, yet knowing exactly what to do, Victoria grabbed Pouncival's paws and pulled him to his feet.

Jellicle cats are merry...

Victoria nudged Pouncival again. He looked over at Alonzo, who raised his eyebrows slightly. Pouncival began to laugh.

And bright!

He exclaimed his line, which drew laughter. Victoria, realising that she would be singing the next line on her own, simply exclaimed her words as well to mimic Pouncival.

And pleasant to hear when we caterwaul!

As the Jellicles began taking turns with the lines, instinctively filling in for those that were absent, Coricopat felt Mistoffelees squeeze his paw. They were stood together, getting ready to dance as Mistoffelees had promised. Both of them needed this, though for the moment they continued to test the waters.

"So, can you sing with me in a moment?" Mistoffelees asked Coricopat quietly, practically whispering his words.

"Why?" Coricopat responded almost immediately, cocking his head at Mistoffelees.

"I would have thought that was obvious." Mistoffelees responded in kind, shaking his head at Coricopat. "Because Tumblebrutus or Skimbleshanks used to sing my words with me. Neither of them are likely to be joining in any time soon..."

Coricopat nodded as he looked at the floor. "For a moment, I had forgotten." It was all he said, and yet it was enough. Coricopat rarely gave any evidence of his emotions, yet the way he spoke was obvious enough to Mistoffelees that there was lingering hurt.

And if any tom in the tribe knew about lingering hurt, it was Mistoffelees. Tantomile's rejection still drained him. He wondered why Coricopat would show pain at the loss of Skimbleshanks and Tumblebrutus, especially as it all happened so long ago, and so bridged the gap between them in order to nuzzle his friend's cheek. "Would you sing with me?" He asked, before turning as their cue had arrived.

We know how to dance a gavotte and a jig.

Mistoffelees grinned at Coricopat, who smiled softly back. And as the song continued, both toms spared a thought for Tantomile. Without doubt, this must have been difficult for her – out of all of the cats in the tribe, she appeared to be the only one whose injuries were so severe that she was unable to dance. It was then that Coricopat hatched a plan, and he whispered it to Mistoffelees in the hope that his friend might assist him with it.

We are resting and saving ourselves to be right
For the
Jellicle moon and the Jellicle Ball

Jellicle cats come out tonight
Jellicle cats come one, come all
The Jellicle moon is shining bright
Jellicles come to the
Jellicle Ball

Pouncival stepped across to the car boot, on which Tantomile was now sat. He hopped up beside her, showing remarkable agility all things considered, and took her paw in his. As they sat side-by-side overlooking the dancing, he smiled. "I didn't think anyone would even remember who I am."

"How could they forget?" Tantomile smiled too as she squeezed his paw lightly. "You're Pouncival. Your bubbliness, laughter and all-around giddiness is such that you managed to melt a heart as frozen as mine." She meant her words light-heartedly, which perhaps proved evidence of her meaning. It was only a few years earlier that Tantomile and Coricopat were next to identical, both in appearance and action. It was her relationship with Pouncival that had changed Tantomile into the queen she was today.

And she could not be happier, adding: "I love you, Pounce."

He smirked and hugged her, feeling her warm embrace flow through him. To his eyes, everything about her was perfect. From the markings of her ears to the tip of her tail, he saw the most beautiful creature he could imagine. "That's a coincidence." He beamed, nuzzling her cheek. "Because I love you, too."

Munkustrap glanced at the pair sat upon the car boot. It was encouraging to see their happiness, though watching them embrace did bring a pang of guilt to his chest. Making a snap decision, he darted beyond the Jellicles, through the shadows and into the open. He had a few minutes.

Sitting upon a mountain of junk, away from the Jellicles but with a nice aerial view of them, were Demeter and Jemima. As much as anyone had been hurt by Macavity's malicious attacks, there could be no doubt that Jemima was one of the most brutal cases. Her hurt was clear to see, which is why she sat so far away from the action. It was also why she had now taken to burying her face in Demeter's shoulder, once again crying as the memories overwhelmed her. It was too much.

"It'll be okay." Demeter reminded her, lightly stroking the back of Jemima's head. "I don't know if it will ever be easy, but I can promise that one day, it'll be okay." She was not sure of her words, but there had to be hope. Demeter was not convinced that Jemima would ever get over the pain of losing her partner – she could not imagine life without her own partner, without Munkustrap. Considering her skittishness, it would not be surprising that Demeter jumped when she saw him approach... No, she reasoned that there was no way she could cope without him.

Munkustrap dug his claws into the junk-heap and hauled himself to the top, only momentarily pausing to catch his breath before offering his embrace to Demeter. Though it was not at the forefront of his mind, there was little doubt that Munkustrap believed he could not cope without Demeter, either. She was his everything.

As they hugged, both cats looked down at Jemima. The smaller queen sobbed as she reached out to Munkustrap, who took her paw immediately. "I'm sorry." She croaked through the tears, her voice harsh. Clearly her crying had been going on for some time.

"Do not be sorry for a single thing." Munkustrap responded simply as he lifted Jemima's paw to kiss it softly. "I merely came to ask if you might want to rejoin us in half an hour, just for a little while."

Demeter immediately shot Munkustrap a look and held Jemima tightly to her chest. "We are perfectly happy here, thank you." She said firmly, unwavering. She knew what was on his mind, that they should return for the 'Jellicle Choice'. She and Munkustrap had argued about it for hours the previous day, and her position remained the same. Nobody would be taking Jemima away from her, not even Old Deuteronomy.

Munkustrap and Demeter continued to stare at one another, an absent argument raging in their own minds, with Jemima perfectly silent throughout. Eventually, the music that radiated from the Junkyard was great enough that both cats turned to look towards it, and momentarily relaxed enough to enjoy the sights of the tribe frolicking together.

Five years ago, when Grizabella was chosen at the Jellicle Ball, things were very different. The dancing had evolved in that time, with more and more short routines than before. It was not unusual that Bombalurina took a solo for herself, nor when Victoria and Electra joined in. Alonzo and Plato's oddball duet was more humorous than anything else, while Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer's short reprise of their earlier song triggered applause.

The first real surprise came when Mistoffelees threw himself into a forward roll and leapt to his feet. In a moment of majesty he verified his "terpsichorean powers" with a series of moves stolen directly from his own song. Professional dancers might have commented on the ability of his Fouetté en tournant or grand jeté, but to Mistoffelees this had more of a therapeutic aspect. His emotions continued to boil, and for a moment his dance in the dim lights provided relief from his melancholy thoughts.

Following yet another perfect landing, Mistoffelees spun to stand with his paw reached forward. It was a cue that Coricopat could not possibly ignore, as he swiftly slid across the floor and kipped-up to his feet. Standing side-by-side, both toms raised an arm then a leg, spinning in perfect synchrony. Their bodies lined-up as they rolled onto the floor – glancing side-to-side as they swayed in the twilight, flowing into another roll as their paws pressed onto the ground.

No words were spoken as their paws briefly touched, a mixture of accident and wanton purpose, before they again hopped to their feet in perfect synchronisation. Their bodies rose as they rolled their shoulders, spinning briefly before leaping through the air in unison. They landed on their knees, breathing heavily, before glancing at one another. Their eyes locked.

To both toms, their duet was over far too soon. Already, Alonzo and Cassandra were leading a small routine, a fact which Coricopat and Mistoffelees were unaware of. They remained on their knees, each transfixed by the gaze of the other. With their chests heaving heavily from the exhaustion of the dancing, Coricopat finally (if not briefly) gave Mistoffelees a glimpse into the side of his mind that very few cats got to see.

"Your eyes." Coricopat spoke softly, his voice ringing in Mistoffelees' ears. "They are so... black. Dark. Distant. Is it just that I have never truly stared into them before? I regret that."

Mistoffelees turned away. Coricopat's words had stunned him, and the conversation was over as soon as it had begun. Mistoffelees scampered into the crowd, leaving Coricopat to find his own footing and consider going after him. Coricopat briefly resigned himself to it, but something else caught his attention as he turned. He saw Alonzo and Cassandra finishing their routine, only for Pouncival to leap into the clearing.

Pouncival felt eyes fall onto him. Of course he did, he had just done something bold. It was hardly an hour ago that Munkustrap had asked him to sing and he had declined, feeling nothing other than embarrassment – but soon after, he also felt regret. He wanted to sing, and when he joined in with Little Tom Pollicle during Pekes and the Pollicles, he felt alive. There had been only happiness wherever he looked, and all of that had culminated in this moment of bravery.

Now, Pouncival no longer had any whiskers, but he had since adjusted to life without them. He had never danced with this new kind of balance, so he at first took things slowly. A few small steps, turning his body into a gentle roll. He flowed back onto his knees and arched his body up, regaining his standing position with a remarkable grace. The muscle memory that allowed him to do this brought great confidence, and quickly he wanted to do more.

A few leaps and a light hop came soon after, he felt adrenaline rush through his body as the other Jellicles looked on with smiles and encouragement. He spun again, stopping just beside where Tantomile sat. With a few sharp movements he ran his paws through his headfur, leaning his head back with them, before reaching out to her.

Her eyes widened. Tantomile had been watching with dumbfounded amazement, but this... this was far beyond anything she could comprehend. She stared at his paws, almost unable to understand what he wanted before the meaning became very clear. "I... I can't dance." She said quietly, glancing down at her injuries. "I hurt too much..."

"Who said anything about dancing?" Pouncival asked before stepping forward. He leaned close and wrapped his arms around Tantomile, one arm sliding under her legs and the other around her lower back, before lifting her gingerly into his arms. His surge of strength, most likely caused by the current of adrenaline pouring through him, caused a couple of gasps.

Tantomile wrapped her arms instinctively around the back of Pouncival's neck as she stared wistfully into his eyes. She could not believe that this was happening, that all of her dreams about her partner would come true. He had swept her from her feet once before, but that had been years ago. This was happening right now, and it made her feel like she was a kitten. She purred.

The sound of Tantomile purring was like music to Pouncival's ears as he spun with her en tow, her purring the rhythm of his movements. It was a dance to prove something to her – more than anything, it was to prove to her that he was ready. Ready to be in a relationship again, ready to be her mate again. It was to prove that he was ready to be with her for the rest of their lives, no matter what. As much as anything else, it was a mating dance.

With the gentlest of movements Pouncival fell onto his side, resting Tantomile against the ground. She practically jumped on top of him, wrapping her arms around him and placing twenty-something soft kisses upon his lips. They nuzzled and purred, locked up in each other's arms and giggling like kittens at the surreal nature of it all.

As they laughed, both managed to look over and observe the pas de deux between Plato and Victoria. It was a staple of the Jellicle Ball, a duet that brought everyone to a hushed quiet. The entirety of the tribe watched on as Plato lifted Victoria onto his shoulder and ran his paw along her thigh, before carrying her down onto the floor. As they lay there, a pile of cats soon began to emerge with more and more Jellicles joining in. Both Pouncival and Tantomile crawled over to join the group, as every Jellicle's paw rose into the air for just one moment, then slowly fell to rest on another.

Tantomile missed her cue, because she was too busy nuzzling Pouncival. Coricopat missed his cue because he was too busy feeling shunned by Mistoffelees, and Mistoffelees missed his cue because he was caught up in his own thoughts about Coricopat. Plato sat bolt upright, looked around and jumped to his feet. Suddenly, half of the Jellicles were rising too, to be joined immediately by the others as everyone began to dance.

Mistoffelees looked up as the lights burst into vibrant, explosive colours, the music that they could all hear rang louder and truer than ever as their movements matched it in perfect unison. Tantomile leaned against Pouncival and did not join in (she felt unable to), while Pouncival made the most basic of movements as he supported her. But as the colours shone throughout the Junkyard, and broad smiles of happiness fell on the faces of every cat in sight, it had an effect more far-reaching that the clearing.

For sat on that mountain of junk, with Munkustrap and Demeter still silent, Jemima finally spoke up.

"Okay." She said simply, sitting upright between the two older cats. "I'll do it, I'll come down there and I'll... try to dance. But I don't know if I can and I don't feel like I can." Her voice was hoarse, the effect of crying for so long. "I can't... sing. Please don't make me."

Munkustrap smiled as he wrapped a loving arm around Jemima's waist. "Nobody will make you sing." He said with that same simple tone, before looking up at Demeter one more time. He considered their fight once more, and whether this was the right thing to do. Was it Jemima's time to go to Heaviside, or could she get past this? He was not sure, but it was the uncertainty that convinced him to at least try and improve her spirits. "And nobody will make you dance either, but I suspect during Skimbleshanks you might want to-"

Jemima interrupted him. "During Skimble? But... but we can't do that song anymore. He's... he's gone like... like..."

"Just because someone is not with us anymore..." Munkustrap nuzzled Jemima's ear, offering her his support. "...does not mean that we cannot sing about them. Perhaps next year we could sing about Etcetera, too. You would have to write a hell of a song, but then again, Tugger keeps talking about doing a 'rap', is it? I don't really understand. I need a new song to sing. He's got, like, two already."

Demeter smiled at Munkustrap as she watched him try to cheer up Jemima. For what it was worth, he appeared to be doing a reasonable job as he managed to draw a laugh from the younger queen's lips. Demeter shook her head in slight disbelief, surprised that he would be talking about the future like that. But she believed his words, and silently prayed that they meant he believed Jemima had a future in the tribe, that it was not her time to leave them.

Demeter also wrapped her arm around Jemima, giving her both of their support. "Not to put too much pressure on you, darling, but I also need a couple of songs. So if you get a moment, I would rather appreciate you writing that one for us. We could all sing it together... would you like that?"

Jemima lifted her paws to wipe the tears from her eyes as she shook away both of their arms and got to her feet. "I would love that." She said with a shaky voice, trying her hardest to hold a calm exterior. "Let's do it... let's go down there and... and join them."

As they climbed down the mountain of junk and began to make their way back towards the clearing, things had begun to die down. With the main number of the Jellicle Ball over (and no Munkustrap to direct them where to go next), things had gotten a bit confusing. Alonzo had tried to move things along, but ultimately he decided instead to do a series of backflips. It was not that they were bad backflips (Pouncival would later refer to them as 'Tumble-esque'), but they were hardly helping.

The most surprising moment came when the Rum Tum Tugger stepped into the centre of the tribe with a small stool. He placed it in the middle of everyone and lightly sat himself down, only to be immediately surrounded by all of the cats who were present. Munkustrap arrived just in time to watch his brother open his mouth, unable to stop him.

"First, Grizabella." Tugger began, glancing between the on-lookers. "Then Gus. We've lost Jennyanydots, Skimbleshanks and now... Etcetera. That's what dad has been saying, anyhow." He glanced back at Old Deuteronomy, who looked on at his son with a lack of expression. He now knew what Tugger was planning, and he had no intention of stopping it. If this was what he wanted, then this is what would happen.

"Thing is though, someone else died." Tugger folded his arms as he looked towards Munkustrap. "Our brother died, Munks. I feel like nobody even knows, and I also kinda feel like nobody even cares." He was, of course, talking about Macavity. The tom that Tugger himself had killed, in order to finally bring an end to the suffering. He would never forget the moment that Macavity begged for his life to be spared. Never forget. Every night since, sleep had been impossible. He needed to get this off his chest, his needed the cats of this tribe to understand his suffering.

"You all remember the song we used to sing about Gus, right? Gus: The Theatre Cat? Well, I wrote some new words. I'm not smart enough to come up with my own music or anything, so just think of that while I sing you this song I wrote over the last few days... It's a song about my brother, Macavity."

The reaction was stoic. Almost every cat looked at one-another as though they had been betrayed – the ignominy! They wondered how he might even dare sing about the cat that caused them all such suffering, who had brutally hurt so many of them. Noticeably, Pouncival's gleefulness took a hit. His laughter froze as time almost came to a standstill, and briefly he relied on Tantomile once again to keep him safe. His arms wrapped around her and she held him close, all as the Rum Tum Tugger began to sing:

Mac was a cat who I used to adore
His name as I ought to have told you before
Was really 'Macavity' but such was his depravity
That I will refrain
From using that name.

His coat was quite shabby
He was thin as a rake
He suffered from madness
Which made his mind shake.
Yet he was in his youth quite the loveliest cat
So if it's alright I'd rather talk about that

I thought about the cat he was before he died
And I am not ashamed to admit that I cried
Remembering times that we spent in our youth
We were greatest of friends if I tell you the truth
I will choose to recall my brother as my friend
Not for the cat that he turned into at the end

For he once was a star who could act with such skill
That even old Gus used to say he could thrill
And I'd like to remember his friendship to me
As a thing I should treasure rather than free
But his hideous murders which caused us such pain
Are why I had to kill him, and I'd do it again.

Tugger bowed his head and looked at his paws.

So many truths had not been passed on to the Jellicles until then. The truth that Macavity was definitely dead, the truth that Tugger had taken his life – and the truth that, behind the madness, Macavity was still his brother. Tugger's immediate fear was that he might not be accepted, that his actions might somehow lead to the Jellicles viewing him differently, that they might see him as a killer...

...but no such thing was to happen.

In the silence that had fallen, the only reaction that mattered was that of Old Deuteronomy. He stepped between the on-looking cats and placed his paw on Tugger's shoulder, before wrapping his arms around his son. It was an act of forgiveness, and one that was quickly joined by almost every single Jellicle in the tribe. They joined together in the warmest of hugs, offering Tugger the support that he both needed and deserved.

It was Munkustrap who found the words to interrupt the silence, as he broke through the cats to place his paws on Tugger's shoulders and look his brother in the eyes. "I am so, so sorry." Munkustrap said simply, maintaining solid eye contact. "I should not have let you do what you felt you had to do... it was my lot in life to remove him from this world, yet I passed that burden onto you-"

Tugger batted away Munkustrap's paws and shook his head. "It's not my turn to be upset, and you have no reason to apologise to me." He said his words with the simplest of tones, a very calm voice despite the song he had just sung. "I did what I had to, even if it hurts. Didn't you even listen to my song? I feel like I was pretty explicit about that, but I can re-write it if you'd like..."

Munkustrap rolled his eyes at his brother. He should have expected that Tugger would deflect any emotions. Giving a mild shrug, Munkustrap lowered his arms to wrap them around Tugger and give him a gentle hug. "You're an idiot and I love you." He smiled, feeling happiness in that moment, before adding: "That's three songs you have now. Three, assuming you are still going to sing Mistoffelees. It's too many songs, Tugger. Gus would be furious."

Jellylorum, keen to join in as the mood shifted from sadness to humour, wondered loudly if anyone would consider learning the words for Growltiger next year, as she would rather like to play Griddlebone again. To say there was laughter would be an understatement, as Plato immediately begged her to allow him to be the pirate cat.

As time went on, other cats came and spoke to Tugger. His song had stirred up a lot of emotions, but more than anything the tribe came to thank him for his actions – though, to be fair, Bombalurina was primarily just annoyed that he didn't tell her about his song. Perhaps one of the most complicated cases that came to him was Jemima.

Jemima did not say anything. She tried to, that was for sure, but the words refused to come out. Off the back of that revelation, now that she knew that Tugger had gotten rid of the cat who killed her girlfriend... it made things complicated. She did not know whether to thank him or throttle him, now that she would not get the chance to hurt Macavity herself – and all of this was marred by the fact that she did not even believe in violence of any kind, which just made her head hurt.

Caught up without a definitive way to respond to this, Jemima did the only thing that made sense to her. Having already approached Tugger and stood directly in front of him, desperate to say something, anything to let him know her emotions, her face scrunched up as her lip quivered, and a few tears started to form once more in her eyes.

Tugger immediately reached forwards and brought Jemima into a hug. He kissed her between the ears and glanced up, only to see that their were more participants in this hug than he had anticipated. Just like they had done for him, almost every Jellicle in the tribe came close to wrap their arms around the nearest cat. It was another massive hug, with Jemima surrounded by contact from her closest friends and loving family. In amongst this noise, Tugger leaned close and whispered something to Jemima – though over the noise of the other Jellicles it was too quiet to be heard by anyone else.

For a little while, he just hugged her. Whatever he had said had obviously taken some kind of effect as Jemima had stopped crying, instead simply hugging him back. Tugger had a stoic look on his face, not so much without emotion as it was without his usual swagger, and his body language was very big. Protective, even. It was as though this was his message to the tribe, that he would step up to protect them if he was ever needed again.

For Jemima, his words had calmed her. She would never feel the need to repeat them, as they had given her some kind of closure. She had believed Tugger to be the only other cat in the entire tribe who could have possibly understood her suffering at losing Etcetera, but she now felt that to be wrong. Everyone was affected by the loss, everyone came to hug her and give her their love. It cleared her mind somehow, as he sorrow did not feel like her burden anymore, but something that others would help her with. For once, this seemed to make sense, and she was able to release Tugger without saying a single word.

As Jemima quietly returned to Demeter and the group hug began to disperse, Mistoffelees took the opportunity to approach. The black and white tom stood with his arms folded as he stared at Tugger. "Y'know, the Ball was going along really nicely until you decided to make everyone cry." He smirked at his friend, drumming his fingertips across his arm impatiently. "So good job on that."

"Awww, is Sparkles mad about something?" Tugger grinned, his smile widened by Mistoffelees' immediate frustration at the use of that nickname. "Hey, I'm sorry, I know that's not the name we're giving you nowatimes... now what was it... Coricosparkles, is that right?"

Mistoffelees almost theatrically stomped his foot in frustration. "Oh my actual GOD is this going to be my life now?" The magic cat shook his head in disbelief as he folded his arms tighter. "Me and him are not even together and also that is not my name."

"Your name is Mistoffelees." Coricopat said quietly as he stood beside the black-and-white tom. He had walked over rather timidly, not intending to cause a fuss. "And it is a rather lovely name."

Mistoffelees was uncomfortable. He glanced at Tugger, whose attention span was apparently so short that he had already started talking to Bombalurina about his failure to tell her about his song. With those two entwined in conversation, it gave Mistoffelees little option than to confront Coricopat. "Thanks." He said simply, immediately failing utterly to confront him. He was too distracted by Tugger, and his kittenish frustration at getting hardly any chance to talk to him.

"I fear that I may have upset you earlier – I would like you to know that upsetting you was not my intent." Coricopat also seemed to be uncomfortable, which at least took something away from his cold exterior. "I was simply attempting to be... I do not fully know. It simply seemed to be the right thing to say. That is to say, I thought that you might like me saying it."

Mistoffelees unfolded his arms. "Are you trying to tell me that you thought you were paying me a compliment?" He asked with an incredulous look on his face. "Because if you were, you failed pretty miserably. I hate my eyes and I hate it when anyone talks about them. I thought my friends knew that, but obviously I was wrong."

Coricopat bowed his head slightly. "Then I apologise. I do not get to choose the things that upset you." He glanced up briefly, having apologised both verbally and physically. "Please allow me to make this up to you. Perhaps we could talk for a while and I could better understand you? I would like to do that. Not that you have to, nor that you should really consider it, but that it may be-

"Cori, don't ramble. It really doesn't suit you." Mistoffelees reached forward and patted Coricopat on the shoulder. "After this, let's go back to Munkustrap's den and collect our things... we can maybe talk some more then, if you'd like."

Coricopat nodded his head. "I would like that very much." He glanced between Mistoffelees and Tugger, noticing that Tantomile and Pouncival were approaching. He briefly considered going over, before reconciling that they would probably be fine without him... a fact that was beginning to make him feel something turn in the pit of his stomach. He was not ready for those two not to need him.

Pouncival and Tantomile walked slowly (they had little choice, considering Tantomile's weary condition and the injury to her thigh in particular), but soon they were close enough to be heard. Tantomile waved at her brother, while Pouncival stepped forward and poked the Rum Tum Tugger in the shoulder.

"Hi." Pouncival said simply, looking up at the bigger cat.

"Well, hi there." Tugger responded in kind, cocking his head slightly. "And what can I do for ya?"

Pouncival bowed his head. "Thank you." His voice was almost as quiet as a whisper, but Tugger did not have to strain to hear him. "He took my family away from me... now he can't do that to anyone else ever again. So... uhm... thank you. Again. Thank you right now and forever."

Tugger smiled. He looked around at the other cats and raised an eyebrow, fluffing up what remained of his mane before stepping forward from his seat to wrap his arms around Pouncival in a soft hug. It was a simple act, but it was important – for that hug acted as a guide for the rest of the tribe, a signal that Pouncival was fine by Tugger's books, a sign that Pouncival could be trusted. As if everything else building up to this moment did not confirm it, Tugger's actions made it absolutely certain.

He was accepted. A hug from Tugger was enough to cause most every other cat stood there to step forwards and wrap their arms around him as well. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Pouncival's reaction was in-keeping with his giddiness, as while this might overwhelm someone else into tears (Jemima certainly struggled to keep them at bay), it only produced some small giggles from Pouncival – laughter which was shared rapidly throughout the tribe.

Just as with Jemima before, Tugger whispered something to Pouncival, who appeared to nod and whisper something back. It was a fleeting moment that would have been hard for any of the other cats to notice, as the hugs swiftly ended.

And as this group dispersed, Munkustrap placed his paw on Pouncival's shoulder. He took one look at the smaller tom and gave a wide smile, before offering the most simple of encouragements: "You can do it."

Pouncival sung.

Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat!
The cat of the railway train!

It only took those two lines. Everyone swiftly joined in with such incredible vigour and eagerness that a surge of happiness radiated throughout them all. The Jellicles were in full spirits, singing the song as if they sung it every day.

There's a whisper down the line at 11:39
When the night-mail's ready to depart
Saying, "Skimble, where is Skimble?
Has he gone to hunt the thimble?
We must find him or the train can't start!"

For a moment, a few cats wondered if the train would never start.

Everything paused for Pouncival as he realised that the entirety of the tribe expected him to sing. They wanted him to perform Skimbleshanks' part; to perform his father's part. Pouncival simply did not know if he could, yet that fear was not to last for very long. It was Tantomile's turn to provide the encouragement as she stepped through the crowd and placed her paws on Pouncival's cheeks.

"You can do this, Pounce. After everything else you've been through... this is easy." And with that, she laid the soppiest of kisses upon his lips and gave him a wide grin.

Pouncival hardly needed much more encouragement than that. Putting on his best 'dad voice' (read: dodgy Scottish accent), he began to sing:

All the guards and all the porters
And the station master's daughters
Would be searching high and low
Saying "Skimble, where is Skimble?
For unless he's very nimble
Then the night-mail just can't go.

At 11:42 with the signal overdue
And the passengers all frantic to a man
That's when my Dad would appear and he'd saunter to the rear
He'd been busy in the luggage van!

The song was a thing of magic. Pouncival was simply majestic in his movements; it was crystal clear that he remembered everything his father used to do. In that moment, he was channelling Skimbleshanks, perfectly performing the song as though it was years earlier. Every cat in the tribe performed so admirably, it was as though they too had been performing this every day for the past few years.

Everything was there, from the awkwardly-raised-knee to the imaginary-checking-of-the-pocket-watch. Pouncival fixed the line when Victoria and Cassandra moved out of position, and shushed Rumpleteazer when she was being too raucous. It was a fantastic tribute to his role model and hero, and it did not go unnoticed by anyone in the tribe.

Then the guard looked in politely and would ask you very brightly,
"Do you like your morning tea weak or strong?"
But my Dad was just behind him and was ready to remind him,
For Skimble won't let anything go wrong!

They did not make a fake train, which more came down to the fact that nobody expected the song to be sung and hence did not prepare for it – but almost everyone went to their respective 'positions' anyway, as though they were holding parts of a train. And Pouncival was true to this too, walking Old Deuteronomy towards it and looking proud. When they all collapsed, it was a joint laughter – and to Pouncival, it was perfect.

And he gives you wave of his long brown tail
Which says "I'll see you again!
You will meet without fail on the Midnight Mail
The cat of the railway train!"

There was not a step-up as before, but Tugger placed the stool in front of Pouncival and helped him stand on top of it. Everyone gathered round as Munkustrap quietly urged everyone to not sing the final line. Everyone looked at Pouncival with wide smiles and eager eyes. After a few moments, Tantomile began clapping her paws, which caught on immediately. With everyone clapping to urge him on, Pouncival looked up at the sky.

The Cat of the Railway... Train!

And with that, he collapsed to his knees in a heap of tears. The sheer number of hugs was utterly crazy. Pouncival had proven, more than anything else, that he was not insane. He had proven that he was no longer ill. Officially mated to Tantomile, singing a song in the Jellicle Ball... able to sing with such happiness. He was no longer someone they tried to avoid, he was now accepted again.

So it should not have been a surprise to many that the Rum Tum Tugger interrupted this moment.

"Hey, so, everyone pay attention to me now." Tugger was stood on top of the car trunk. As if his words were a legal necessity, half of the tribe almost immediately turned to face him. He grinned. "I didn't actually expect anyone to do it... anyway! It's not as if my Dad is missing or whatever, but y'know, there's this song we usually do around about here that I'm a big ol' fan of..."

A few cats rolled their eyes, but most of the younger female kittens (and Plato) practically swooned at the fact that Tugger was about to sing again. It was Mistoffelees who spoke up first, jumping up on top of the trunk to join his friend. He hesitated for a moment, folding his arms before shrugging and looking at the crowd. "Okay, but only if you drop the '7 kittens out of a hat' bit. That just isn't true. Seriously. My virility has very little to do with my magical ability."

Tugger grinned as he slid an arm around Mistoffelees' back. "Nice one, Sparkles. So anyway, I know all you Jellicles ain't got a question right now, but hell, if you did..."

You ought to ask magical Mr. Mistoffelees – the original conjuring cat.
There can be no doubt about that.
Please, listen to me, and don't scoff.
All his inventions are off his own bat.

There's no such cat in the metropolis
He holds all the patent monopolies
For performing surpriiiiiiiising illusions
And creating eccentric confusions

The greatest magicians have something to learn
From Mr. Mistoffelees' conjuring turn...

And we all say
"Oh, well, I never!
Was there ever a cat so clever as
Magical Mr. Mistoffelees?"

The Rum Tum Tugger briefly paused as his fluffed up his mane again. He smiled broadly at Mistoffelees, who simply rolled his eyes. "C'mon Sparkles, what's all this moping around about, huh? We've got a tribe of kitties out here just waiting for me to sing and you to dance!"

Mistoffelees shook his head with an exasperated sigh. "I'm not feeling like myself at the moment." He turned to the onlooking Jellicles, but having seen their smiling and hopeful faces, just for a moment he allowed his showmanship to shine through. "But Tugger, I'm going to dance. You know that. I'm going to dance and it'll be amazing and I'll have every cat here on the edge of their freaking seat."

"Now you're starting to get it!" Tugger grabbed Mistoffelees' tail and spun it a couple times, making the other cat yelp and producing laughter from the crowd.

He is quiet, he is small, he is black
From his ears to the tip of his tail,
He can creep through the tiniest crack,
He can walk on the narrowest rail

The Jellicles ate up every word. Tugger slid down from the car boot, walking between them as he sung the praises of his best friend, this time seeming to put quite some emphasis on Mistoffelees' exploits. He was being quite forward, dropping down and singing lines to particular cats as he went. Nobody was safe from his confidence-building exercise, as Tugger got everyone he could to cheer for Mistoffelees. He hardly needed to sing by the time he got to the chorus, as everyone was on their feet and cheering the lyrics:

And we all say
"Oh! Well, I never!
Was there ever a cat so clever as
Magical Mr Mistoffelees?"

"Wait! Come on now, Sparkles. How's about some sexy magic to liven up this party, hm?" Tugger was laughing and many of the tribe were looking on expectantly, but it took Tugger requesting it for Mistoffelees to remember that he was incapable of it. The whole situation was complicated, to say the least, but suffice to say none of the Jellicles were capable of any magic while in Tantomile's presence. That pink collar around her neck, the same collar that was effectively keeping Pouncival's demons at bay, was jamming every cat's magical ability.

But Mistoffelees was not the only cat that was aware of this. As the tom struggled to give the crowd a good reason for why he could not perform any magic (he did not want to explain how Tantomile's collar affected a wider area, nor single her out as the reason), he felt a surge of lightning flow through him. It was like waking up from a long sleep, as his fur went from plain black-and-white to a glittering, glistening electric. Energy poured through him – energy that needed to be expelled.

He span and shot a bolt of electricity that exploded on the ground. He fired more and more, setting them to explode wherever it would not harm a nearby cat. Mistoffelees' face was a euphoric grin as he made more explosions, feeling an awful lot like his old self again. The 'oohs' and 'aahs' at all of his bursts of magic gave him bursts of happiness, and he raised his paws into the air and yelled "Presto!"

At those words, the already incredible lights of the Junkyard flashed into a new kind of life, shining brighter and more colourful than before. The bright colours complimented the starry night sky, even adding a mystical brightness to the Jellicle Moon. All of these things shone down upon the Jellicles, and Mistoffelees wondered about his magic. He knew that this could only be possible if Tantomile was no longer around, but how could that be?

Even as Tugger began the second verse and played up to the crowd, in the back of Mistoffelees' mind there remained that question, which once again manifested itself into a kind of masochistic 'what if'. What if he was with Tantomile instead of Pouncival? What if he had taken things further when they kissed? What if he had simply kept the revelation about Pouncival's voices to himself?

Tantomile and Pouncival would have been substantially less happy right now if Mistoffelees had chosen to do that. They were both giddy, mixed with the euphoria of performing and the happiness of the evening. Munkustrap had led them both away from the rest of the tribe when Tugger began to sing his song about Mistoffelees, having foreseen the potential problem. They had gotten all the way to Munkustrap's den by the time that Mistoffelees' powers finally returned to him, though none of them could have known that.

In fact, due to the pace at which they were walking (which was rather slow considering Tantomile's injury), it was simple enough for them to turn around and begin returning back to the main clearing where the Ball was being held, with Munkustrap confirming that he had given Tugger "a reasonable amount of time" to raise Mistoffelees' spirits.

His manner is vague and aloof
And you would think there was nobody shier
But his voice has been heard on a roof
While he was curled up by the fire

Not that Tugger had been wildly successful, but he had done a good enough job that Mistoffelees was now at least smiling. Deep into the second verse of the song, Tugger was taking his time with the lyrics as he once again directing them towards members of the tribe – all of whom were dancing and swaying in time with the music. Besides that, Mistoffelees was doing his best to get happy, too, dancing with the rest of the tribe.

And he has sometimes been heard by the fire
When he was about on the roof
At least, we all heard that somebody purred,
Which is incontestable proof

Taking full opportunity of this temporary magical ability, Mistoffelees waved his paws in the air and conjured a bucket out of nothing. From the bucket he produced fabric which he threw high above his head, sending it spiralling and falling onto the Jellicles. The multicoloured fabric shimmered and the cats grabbed at it, eager to see more magic.

Of his singular magical powers!
And I've known the family to call
Him in from the garden for hours
While he was asleep in the hall...

By the time that Tugger got to the line about the seven kittens out a hat, he deliberately stopped and raised his paws in apology to Mistoffelees, recalling what the tom had said earlier. But then, asking such a thing of the Rum Tum Tugger is basically just asking for trouble, and Mistoffelees was not even remotely surprised when he saw Tugger place his paw on Coricopat's shoulder and announce:

This mystical cat with profound virility
Has hordes and hordes of magical ability!

The tribe of course laughed. Coricopat looked anguished and held his head in his paws with embarrassment, Tugger even began to sing the chorus – before he noticed something. In amongst the laughter and festivities, Tugger saw what Mistoffelees was doing and once again yelled:

"WAIT!"

So everyone did.

Tugger strode over to Mistoffelees, who had just given the bucket to Jemima, and ruffled her headfur. It was yet another act of sympathy from the magic tom, which did not seem to make sense – Tugger knew how much Mistoffelees was struggling, and yet he was deliberately going out of his way to try and make Jemima feel better? That kind of empathy and heartfulness struck a chord with Tugger, who grabbed Mistoffelees' paw and dragged him into the centre of everyone, before wrapping an arm around his shoulder.

"Okay, you all need to know something-" Tugger began, releasing Mistoffelees and patting him on the back. "This tomcat here is a wild, wild magician. He's got skills outside of all creation, and his mental powers are more than just persuasion. He does more than simple parlour tricks – this little kitty uses his powers to fix."

It was roughly that point that Mistoffelees felt his magic leave him once again – Tantomile and Pouncival were close enough that her collar was blocking it. Tugger was not to know that, though even if he did it would not have stopped him. Mistoffelees glanced to the side.

Tugger started to rap.

Was there ever a cat this clever?
I don't think so, not maybe, not never.
This cat Mistoffelees has unreal abilities
Not just magic but incredible empathies

I've seen him do things that are simply unexplainable
Using his mind to do things that seem unobtainable
So queens and toms, please allow me to announce
That Mr. Mistoffelees is the cat who saved Pounce.

Tugger was not going to wait for any responses to this. He did not even turn to face Mistoffelees, though he might have been able to anticipate the tom's reaction. This was Tugger being protective, as much as anything else. He wanted to protect his friend, to get everyone to cheer him up. And as long as he was singing the tom's praises anyway, he figured that he might as well let all of the Jellicles know exactly how magical Mistoffelees was.

You know the collar that Macavity put on Tantomile?
The pink and studded thing that looks kinda rank and vile?
Well, turns out it don't just stop her magic but others also
So all cats around can't do tricks and Pouncival moreso!

Y'see while all of us had figured Pounce had lost his mind
One of us thought that was wrong and reckoned we were all blind
And Misto figured out that these cats we thought were dead
Were manifesting themselves like voices, mixing up in Pounce's head!

By fate or by chance, it was around this point that Pouncival and Tantomile were close enough to the rest of the tribe that they could hear Tugger's lyrics. It was a shock to Tantomile, who looked almost enraged as she heard her partner's name being used like this. She was terrified by how it might affect Pouncival... who did not seem to care, even slightly.

"He asked me if it was okay, earlier." Pouncival clarified, reaching over to hold paws with Tantomile. "He said it would help Mistoffelees feel happier, and I really, really wanted to do that."

Tantomile briefly struggled to comprehend the selflessness of her partner, that he would happily have his personal life thrown into the open like that in order to help Mistoffelees. But then, after brief consideration, she realised that that sounded exactly like the kind of thing Pouncival would do. Happy to hold paws with him just for now, they made their way closer, joining the group of onlookers.

So I'm asking was there ever a cat so clever?
I don't think so, not now, not never
'Cause using his mind and his brilliant knack,
Mistoffelees is the cat who brought Pouncival back.

Tugger bowed, which looked absolutely ridiculous. With all eyes on him and not a single Jellicle certain about how to respond to his rap, Tugger looked into the crowd and spotted his target. His tone completely washed, the grin falling into something more serious once again as he strode towards Pouncival.

Without asking any questions, Tugger reached out and took Pouncival's paw, raising it and holding it just as he had done with Old Deuteronomy five years earlier. With almost everyone now certain of what Tugger was about to do, it was just a case of letting him sing those next few words.

And we all say...
Oh, well, I never...
Was there ever a cat so clever
as magical Mr. Mistoffelees..?

Pouncival released Tugger's paw and pushed past him, darting over to pounce and hug Mistoffelees very tightly. Coricopat was next, closely followed by Victoria. It was a snowball effect, with everyone present joining in almost immediately until Mistoffelees was at the centre of another big group hug. Tugger clapped his paws together and raised his voice, as every cat present joined in the final refrain:

"Oh! Well, I never!
Was there ever a cat so clever as
Magical Mr. Mistoffelees?"

"Oh! Well, I never!
Was there ever a cat so clever as
Magical Mr. Mistoffelees?"

Ladies and gentlemen!

Tugger laughed as the group hug had turned into a crowd of cats dancing and singing. He made it through the crowd to place his paw on Mistoffelees' shoulder, who was clearly trying very, very hard not to cry.

I give you: The MAGICAL... the MARVELLOUS... Mr. Mistoffelees!

And then there was applause.

In amongst the clapping, Tantomile managed to find her way to Mistoffelees' side as well. Taking her opportunity, she smiled and offered him a hug, which he gratefully accepted. Tugger (of course) joined in the hug too, more or less just to make them feel uncomfortable. Mistoffelees simply felt wanted, and was ineffably grateful to feel such warmth and love.

It was in that moment, with so much happiness radiating throughout the tribe, that Munkustrap took the moment to step forward. As he raised his paws and stood in his true 'protector' pose, the Jellicles began to approach and surround him. Munkustrap began to speak.

Now Old Deuteronomy
Just before dawn
Through a silence you feel you could cut with a knife

Announces the cat
Who can now be reborn
And come back to a different Jellicle life

This time there was no Grizabella to intervene, no other cat to state their desire to be reborn. In a tribe that had seen so much suffering, there was now only smiles – and it was to this group of cats that Old Deuteronomy spoke. "Would a moment of silence suit us all..." He began, taking to his feet and standing beside Munkustrap.

"Would every cat among us please take to the floor... sit and rest your eyes for just one moment." Old Deuteronomy smiled slightly as he watched the Jellicles follow his instructions, and after a short while every cat there was sat on the floor, their eyes shut.

"Now... for just this moment... think on the memory of those that have passed."

With almost every eye shut in the Junkyard, an incredible silence rushed throughout the Jellicles' homes. A small breeze felt like a gust of wind as breathing became synchronised, as every Jellicle became one in a moment of reflection and memory. Memories of cats that had conducted trains, memories of cats that had nursed the sick, memories of cats with high-pitched giggles and squeals; memories of all of those who were not with them anymore. Yet Old Deuteronomy was not sitting. He had begun to step between the cats, making his way to one in particular – Jemima.

The Rum Tum Tugger opened his eyes and got to his feet. He was standing in the way.

Old Deuteronomy raised his head slightly, staring into Tugger's eyes. They had no conversation, yet in their silent exchange seemed to have something more profound. Tugger closed his eyes and slowly sat down, having made his point. He did not believe that Jemima should be chosen.

Whether it was this action or something else, Old Deuteronomy glanced back to Munkustrap, who continued to stand in his role of protector. For a moment, he made no action or indication, but thoughts of Demeter flashed through Munkustrap's head and he did the only thing that made sense to him – he shook his head slightly. Both of Old Deuteronomy's sons had signalled to him that they did not believe Jemima should be chosen. The elderly tom signalled for Munkustrap to sit down, and the silver tom obliged, shutting his eyes as earlier instructed.

There was a moment of nothing, and then a moment of something.

It was in this moment that Pouncival felt a heavy paw rest lightly on his shoulder. He opened his eyes to see Old Deuteronomy sat beside him, the wisdom of a thousand years glistening in his eyes. Pouncival knew what this was. He understood. With no words spoken, the two cats gazed at one another, their thoughts almost intertwining in the mystical twilight.

Deuteronomy's paw lifted to brush against Pouncival's mangled cheek. His fingers stroked over the indents from where his whiskers used to be. They glided through the fur of varying lengths, feeling the hair that had not fully grown back, the patches that would never grow back. Deuteronomy's fingers lightly glanced across Pouncival's jawline, feeling the places it had been broken, feeling all of the evidence of self-harm that would never truly go away.

Pouncival began to cry.

He shook his head, his tears falling against Deuteronomy's paw.

Deuteronomy reached forward and laid a gentle nuzzle on Pouncival's cheek.

Pouncival glanced at Tantomile, then reached an arm across her protectively. He continued to stare at Deuteronomy, a stern look beginning to form on his face. He needed her. This was not his time.

Despite all of the problems that had plagued him and the terrible memories that would never leave him, Pouncival could see Tantomile as the most important part of his life. He saw their relationship as genuine and their future as real. The voices that had been so deafening for so many years were now gone forever, as far as they could understand, and Pouncival knew there was work to be done. He was determined to get back to the cat he once was, and the Jellicle Ball had set that movement on its way.

Pouncival defiantly shook his head, the tears drying up. It was not his time.

Old Deuteronomy's expression softened. It was clear to him that Pouncival did not need to come back to a different Jellicle life...

...he already had done.

The life he would lead after today, after this remarkable act of acceptance from the tribe, would be different. It would be happier, it would be fantastical. For all intents and purposes, Pouncival had been reborn on this day. The Everlasting Cat had looked down upon him and granted him a new life.

"Happiness." Deuteronomy announced as he backed away, watching the glee that lit up Pouncival's face as he stood. "Today, there shall be no cat that leaves us in body." Deuteronomy spoke as eyes opened and cats turned to face him. With a few steps he made it to the front of the group, and after a brief struggle he managed to stand tall.

"I can say one thing with certainty... of all the cats that sit in front of me, there are none that should leave us for the Heaviside Layer. Not today, and not tomorrow... so please, stand for me, and sing as we wish for one thing – for the spirit of Etcetera to join the others in Heaviside."

In amongst the reverence and ruckus, the applause and happiness that Etcetera would be reborn, Pouncival turned to Tantomile. He tried to speak, but she hugged him. "I love you." She said quietly, a happy smile across her lips. "Never leave me, Pounce."

Old Deuteronomy raised his paws to silence the tribe, before offering one final set of words: "But if you would engage a senile old tom... despite the suffering he caused us, I would pray that my other son might find rebirth in some way... that Macavity's spirit might leave this earth and travel to Heaviside as well, to find rest somewhere away from this place."

Up, up, up past the Russell Hotel
Up, up, up, up to the Heaviside Layer
Up, up, up past the Russell Hotel
Up, up, up, up to the Heaviside Layer

The Jellicles sang with such reverence and such glee that their voices could be heard ringing throughout the nearby streets. On almost every Jellicle was a smile, on almost every Jellicle was a look of happiness.

Up, up, up past the Russell Hotel
Up, up, up, up to the Heaviside Layer
Up, up, up past the Russell Hotel
Up, up, up, up to the Heaviside Layer

But Old Deuteronomy was not smiling. He was transfixed.

Up! Up! Up! Past the Jellicle Moon
Up, up, up, up to the Heaviside Layer

Transfixed on the sight that only he could see, of two cats scampering through the darkness. Of a pair of 16-year-old kittens, one male and one female, darting between the tribe as they played tag. Their movements were mesmeric, their laughter echoing in Deuteronomy's elderly ears. For he could see Etcetera's wide grin, he could hear her high-pitched giggle. He could see her scampering towards the tyre, jumping upon it moments before it raised from the ground. She stuck out her paw, reaching out for the red-furred tom to grab it. That tom... that young, playful, happy tom... he turned and looked directly across the tribe.

Up! Up! Up! Past the Jellicle Moon
Up, up, up, up to the Heaviside Layer

It was as though time itself had frozen. In that moment, there were no other cats alive. There was only Deuteronomy – no longer 'Old' Deuteronomy, now just Deuteronomy – and this 16-year-old. In this vision, Deuteronomy could see himself approaching this red-furred tom and wrapping his arms tightly around him for one last time. He could see the tears that rolled down his cheeks as he touched the son he left behind. He could see everything that could have been as an entire life flashed before his eyes – he saw the Macavity that could have been, his memories flushed with visions of the tom as everything he had ever wanted him to be.

The mystical divinity

"I'm sorry, Dad." Macavity said. "I'm so, so sorry."

Of unashamed felinity

"Take her paw, son." Deuteronomy spoke as he released the hug. "Take her paw and join her in Heaviside... I will be there soon... I pray that I can be a better father to you there than I managed in this lifetime."

Round the cathedral rang 'Vivat'

As he stepped back, he could see the young Macavity jumping up to grab Etcetera's paw. She helped him onto the tyre as it ascended into the sky, kittenish laughter pouring from their mouths as they vanished before Deuteronomy's eyes.

Life to the Everlasting Cat

As the singing stopped, Old Deuteronomy saw that Tugger and Munkustrap were hugging him. He smiled a small smile and hugged them back. "I am quite old." He said softly, looking between them. "It is not long now."

Munkustrap nodded. Old Deuteronomy had spoken out loud during that song, he had been staring into the distance as if he were in a daze. Munkustrap assumed what he had been seeing – it would not be the first time that an elderly tom had seen visions in the Jellicle Ball – and hugged him a little harder.

Despite receiving the affection of his two remaining sons, Old Deuteronomy urged them both to back away. With smoke still forming throughout the Junkyard, he took position upon the old car trunk and began to sing.

You've heard of several kinds of Cat,
And my opinion now is that
You should need no interpreter
To understand their character.
You now have learned enough to see
That Cats are much like you and me

And other people whom we find
Possessed of various types of mind.
For some are sane and some are mad
And some are good and some are bad
And some are better, some are worse —
But all may be described in verse.

You've seen them both at work and games,
And learnt about their proper names,
Their habits and their habitat:
But how would you ad-dress a Cat?

So first, your memory I'll jog
And say, "A cat is not a dog!"

The tribe, of course, switched from an intent and desperate listening to voiceful singing, as they repeated their leader's words.

So first, your memory I'll jog
And say, "A cat is not a dog!"

The tribe watched on as Old Deuteronomy continued to sing the song, giving him their full and unbridled attention. For the Jellicle leader, whose voice was certainly showing his years, this was a night of great success. He could see within the tribe all of the signs that things would be fine – Tantomile and Pouncival holding paws, Jemima stood with both Demeter and Tugger. Even Mistoffelees, who for all of his complaints that people were 'pairing him off', was stood side-by-side with Coricopat for this final song.

As far as Old Deuteronomy could see, every cat who had been adversely affected by Macavity was now at some kind of peace. It would still be a long road for many of them, but their recoveries were truly underway. And it was with that happy thought that he summoned the energy to sing the final refrain of this final song, joined by the angelic chorus of the Jellicle Cats:

A cat's entitled to expect
These evidences of respect
So this is this and that is that
And that's how you ad-dress a cat-

A cat's entitled to expect
These evidences of respect
So this is this and that is that
And that's how you ad-dress a cat!

..


..

Epilogue

Tantomile could not stop the giggles from falling from her lips as she and Pouncival entered their den. The Ball was over, the night too as another day was dawning, yet their time together was only at its beginning. Pouncival was a bundle of giggles too as he pushed the door open to their bedroom, only to find something unexpected.

They both looked at the other and grinned with gleeful happiness, their lips locking in the most passionate of kisses as their paws hugged their bodies tight together, their minds thinking of nothing but the other.

Pouncival and Tantomile smiled at each other with passion and emotional eagerness. Each stared desperately into the eyes of the other, wanting and needing this. Their lips met once more as they tumbled back upon the rose petal-covered bed.

It was the most romantic thing that either could imagine.

..


..

Far across the Junkyard, sat in that extra room of Munkustrap's den, Coricopat and Mistoffelees were gathering their things.

Mistoffelees could not wipe the smile from his face. Tugger's patented 'everyone hug him' therapy had worked wonders, and he could feel his whole outlook changing. Things would be better, he reasoned. He felt certain.

"Thank you for assisting me earlier." Coricopat gave Mistoffelees a small smile, showing his thankfulness. "I would not have been able to conjure such a large amount of rose petals on my own. I appreciate it may have been difficult for you."

Mistoffelees shook his head. "After my song in the Ball, I can't even imagine being sad ever again. I was happy to do it, though I maintain that the candles and – what do you call it, incense sticks? – were a little over-the-top."

Carefully, Mistoffelees lifted the blanket from the floor and inspected it. "I sewed this back together." He uttered, shrugging slightly before giving it a smell. "I don't get it, though. He made this big deal about it smelling like Jenny, but it just smells of him! Maybe a little like Tumblebrutus-"

"That's why Pounce likes it." Coricopat said simply as he picked up the teddy bear. "It's because it smells like his brother. That was the whole point. The thing that he found hardest was losing Tumblebrutus... seriously, were you even listening these past couple of weeks? I feel like that was really obvious."

Mistoffelees stuck his tongue out at Coricopat, who did not seem too bothered and simply continued talking. "Thanks for sewing it back together, anyway. I used to do that a lot. I guess she doesn't really need me much anymore-"

"Hey now." The other tom interrupted him, reaching forward to lightly touch his arm. "Don't be stupid."

The two cats looked at each other for the briefest of moments before Coricopat felt himself smile. "Thank you for staying with us. I... don't have many friends. I would not want to lose another."

A smile fell across Mistoffelees' lips as well as he stepped forwards, wrapping his arms around Coricopat in a hug. "I guess I forgot to tell you how much I missed you." He said simply, not letting go. "You were one of my best friends... part of me always wondered-"

But he stopped talking.

They both sensed it.

They both ran.

Coricopat and Mistoffelees felt the sensation at almost exactly the same time, the clairvoyance and understanding of what was about to happen, of what room they needed to be in for it to happen.

They approached the nursing bed with fear and trepidation, combining despair and euphoria in a matter of moments. A sharp breath hit and the injured tom's body fell limp once more, before life seemed to rocket through it. Slight movements jerked throughout every limb before his body breathed in a deep breath...

...and Tumblebrutus opened his eyes.