Part 13
Cori sighed and kicked at the chains holding his back paws in frustration. He looked at the door to his cell. It was a wooden door with a small window with iron bars. He growled in frustration, from the cell next door he heard Misto and Quaxo do the same.
"What the hell does McDonalds want with us", Cori asked aloud. "Why does he want all thy mysticals?"
"Because he's a sicko", a voice said and he chuckled.
"Misto where are you?" The conjurer became visible and Quaxo was at his side. "How did you get in here?"
"He can creep through the tinniest crack", Quaxo sang happily. "He crept out of his chains and got me out and together we crept in here."
"Why didn't you two just leave then?"
"We can't leave you here", Misto groaned. "Besides I don't know how but I can't teleport outside… and taking someone with me through cracks are tiring and I refuse to leave my brother behind."
"Aw aren't you a doll", Cori teased with a grin.
"How come you're acting like a normal tom when Tanta is away from you?" Quaxo asked.
"Why are both of you acting as immature kittens away from the yard?"
The three of them shared a smile and then they heard a door slam open.
"Get your filthy paws off me you stinking, backstabbing, ugly, cowardly traitor", a voice yelled. The three of them got to the door and saw three henchcats desperately push and drag another tom towards a cell. Two others were leading an old cat towards the cell opposite them.
"Alonzo", Coricopat exclaimed when he saw him.
"Cori?"
"Keep moving", Baron grumbled.
"As if I would listen to you you're fucking puppet."
"Such language."
"I'll give you language if you don't get your paws off of me!"
"I' loike to see tha'."
"As you wish." Alonzo got loose for a moment and cut deep gashes in Baron's chest and made small holes with his claws. "Those dots are called Braille! Remember it!" Coricopat couldn't keep the smile off his face when Baron ran away and the other toms pushed Alonzo into a cell slamming the door shut hurriedly as if they were afraid of him. Then Cori saw Deuteronomy be put in the cell opposite them.
"Now this is just brilliant", he said and looked at their leader. "Now that jerk got what he wants!"
"Not completely", Deuteronomy said. "The myth he's heard is defect and he can't perform the right ceremony without all the mystics."
"So as long as he doesn't know we're safe", Misto asked.
"A bit."
"Well", Alonzo said. "I have no intention of letting Deuteronomy or you stay here. But since I'm only one tom I can't get us all out."
"And how are you going to get one of us out", Quaxo asked with big eyes.
"You'll see Quaxo."
"Lonzo stop playing cat and mouse and tell us your God damn plan", Cori growled.
"Again with that God guy", Quaxo grinned. "You almost sound as if you've converted to human religion Cori. Or do you just love the guy?"
"Shut up Quaxo", Cori hissed.
In the meantime Munkustrap sat in his den with his head in his paws. His father was kidnapped, his friends were kidnapped and his lover was kidnapped and kept as a hostage but what was worse… If Macavity found out Alonzo was a mystical his lover would be doomed. The best they could do now was hope that Macavity didn't find out about Tantomile. He also wondered about the part of the message that said that the Healer, Jenny or Jelly would be needed to save the life of the shape shifter. Who he knew was his beloved Alonzo. The myth made him shudder, what if Alonzo was turned into a tree? Some sobs escaped him and suddenly he felt an arm around his shoulders.
"Munk", a gentle voice said. "Lad are you okay?"
"Y-yeah Skimble… I-I'm just a bit upset."
"As am I… that wretched tom has my son… and your lover I suppose." Munk's head snapped up. "Yes Munk I know you and Alonzo are mates."
"How did you-"
"I've seen it coming since you were both small lad. But I must ask you something Munk… and I want you to be honest with me."
"Alright Skimble."
"Can you keep a secret?"
"Yes."
Skimble sighed deeply. "Munkustrap… I think my son is the shape shifter."
"What?!"
"I think Alonzo is that shape shifter… when he was little his fur changed color when he was with me once. He didn't think of it and I never told anyone… but then when Macavity started to kidnap mysticals and we told you about the myth… I know my son is the shape shifter."
"Are you absolutely sure?"
"Yes… remember the part of the myth where the shape shifter turned into his true form?"
"T-that's the real shape shifter", a princess stuttered.
"Yes", the protector said in awe. "I forgot."
The shape shifter cast him a venomous look. "You shouldn't have."
"Yes", Munk said.
"And do you remember the shape shifter's last words to the protector?"
"Please… I don't… I can't go on like this. Shifting is a curse. My beloved didn't even remember what I look like."
"Yes", Munk said again.
"According to the myth the protector was the shape shifter's beloved and the other way around. You love my son lad… it all makes sense. You are the protector and Alonzo the shifter. Now I have to ask you. Do you know if this is true?"
"I-I-I…"
"I got more proof. You see according to this myth the next shape shifter would look like the last cat the shifter before him looked like."
"So?"
"Do you remember what the shape shifter looked like when the fallen said he'd take him with him if he went?"
"Oh", the shifter asked. His current form was of a patched tom. "And how are you supposed to do that?"
"He was a patched tom?"
"Yes but Jenny left one part out… he was a black and white patched tom."
"Skimble I-"
"Munk I need to know."
Munkustrap sighed and then nodded. "Yes Skimble, Alonzo is the shape shifter I've seen him shift… not only himself but he shifted my shape too."
"What?"
"I was angry with him and forced him to shift and it hurt him and as revenge he scared me by shifting my form."
They were quiet for a little while.
"Munk… Macavity can't find this out."
"I know Skimble."
"If Macavity got Alonzo's powers then we would be screwed. Shit. Fuck. And hell." Munk stared at him, he'd never heard the older tom curse. "Don't look at me like that Munk with your eyes all big looking like a kitten at his first Jellicle ball. I've been young too you know."
"When was that", Munk grinned. "The middle ages?"
"Quiet you little rascal."
"Skimble Alonzo is… resourceful he'll find a way to get out of this tricky situation."
"I know… I just hope he doesn't do it too late."
The next morning Cori and the two small toms woke when they heard Macavity yell:
"Hey let me out from this fucking place!" The three hurried up to the window and saw that Deuteronomy was just as curious as they were. They looked at Alonzo's door and there behind the bars they could see Macavity.
"Sir", a henchcat stuttered as he hurried up to the door and opened it. "How did you get in there?"
"That fucking tom Alonzo tricked me."
"How?"
"I went in to have some… fun with him", the henchcat paled. "But when I entered he was nowhere to be seen so I walked a bit further in. Then that bastard snuck out and slammed the door shut and took off!"
"Shit sir! Don't worry we'll find him!"
Macavity grinned and pulled the henchcat close.
"I don't think so", he said and grinned.
"Sir?"
Cori gasped and he and the other three stared as the henchcat's fur and height changed and he now looked precisely as Alonzo.
"Nice try", Macavity grinned and pushed him inside the cell and slammed the door shut. The henchcat hit the wall and was knocked unconscious. Macavity then whistled and walked up to Deuteronomy's door.
"I must say my boy", the old tom said. "You are very fast."
"Thank you sir", Macavity grinned happily and it looked sort of odd on his face.
"What is going on", Misto asked. Macavity smiled fondly at him.
"A breakout Misto", he said and opened the door to Deuteronomy's cell. "Sir I think we should switch places."
"Absolutely not!" Deuteronomy objected. "I'll not put any of you in danger."
"But sir chances are bigger that Macavity won't start without you."
"Out of the question, take Quaxo."
"No sir it must be you. I'm sorry but you're the only one who can explain this to Munk."
"What in the name of God, shut up Quaxo, is going on?" Cori snapped.
"I told you Cori", Macavity said and put his paw on Deuteronomy's arm and the old tom now looked exactly like Alonzo.
"What the", Misto said and rubbed his eyes. "What the hell is going on?"
"Isn't this interesting", Quaxo grinned. "Cori is interested in the guy up there and my brother is interested in the guy down there."
"Shut up Quaxo", the other tow said.
Macavity grinned and turned into to henchcat that had been turned into Alonzo.
"I'll be back in a second", he said and started to pull Deuteronomy with him.
"Am I the only one who doesn't know what the hell is going on", Misto asked as they disappeared.
"Alonzo let me go at once", Deuteronomy hissed. "I will not tolerate this."
"You don't have much of a choice sir", Alonzo said. He was still looking like the henchcat. "I won't allow you to stay here."
"Alonzo…"
"Sir you got my strength as well as my looks now", Alonzo looked at him sternly and pointed to a broken window. "I'll help you up and you go get Munkustrap and the toms."
"Why can't you go?"
"I can't leave you all here. Macavity doesn't know about me and with some luck he never will."
"Yes but if I leave and you take my place he'll start on you."
"No because I'll tell him about this shape shifter in the tribe and he'll try to find it."
"Alonzo…"
"Please sir, if not for my sake then for the other three."
"Fine… I'll go."
Alonzo smiled and helped the older tom up to the window and the older tom bent down towards him. Alonzo shifted into Deuteronomy and reached out a paw.
"Get them they're trying to escape", a voice yelled and five henchcats came towards them and grabbed "Deuteronomy".
"Run Alonzo", he yelled. "Get help!"
"Deuteronomy", "Alonzo" yelled before hurrying out.
"Get inside", Macavity told Alonzo and pushed him into the cell. "I don't know how you get out and frankly I-"
"Sir", came from Alonzo's old cell. "Sir please change me back!"
"What", Macavity stared when he saw Alonzo in the cell. "How the hell did you get in there Alonzo?! You were seen escaping!"
"I'm not Alonzo sir!"
Alonzo sniggered.
"I think he's lost it", a queen muttered.
"Shut up", Macavity spat. "If you're not Alonzo then who are you?"
"I'm Mack sir!"
"Mack?"
"The guard sir."
"I know who the fuck you are. How is this possible?"
"Looks like the shape shifter got to him", Alonzo said with a smug grin that didn't quite fit on Deuteronomy's face.
"Who", Macavity asked and looked in through the bars.
"The shape shifter", Alonzo continued. "Is a very powerful Jellicle who can change its and the appearance of others like it wants."
"That's impossible!"
"It is a mystical cat Macavity."
"Sir don't tell him", Misto exclaimed. "Who knows what that old rug can do with that kind of power!"
"Interesting", Macavity grinned. "I'll go find this shape shifter and then… I'll take your power."
He left with his men and a confused Mark with them. When the tom past him Alonzo shot out a paw and changed him back before anyone noticed anything.
"Now all we can do is wait", Alonzo grinned.
"Who are you", Cori asked.
"Oh how rude of me", Alonzo's grin widened. "I'm the shape shifter but you can call me Zo."
"Zo", Cori exclaimed. "Y-you're t-the-"
"Shape shifter Cori. Yes that's correct."
"Where is-"
"Alonzo? He's on his way to the Jellicles I hope."
Munk woke when someone shook him gently a few hours later and he looked up at a familiar face.
"Munkustrap wake up", the familiar tom said.
"Alonzo?"
"Munkustrap listen to me."
"You're here", Munk flew up and hugged him close and tried to kiss him but Alonzo pushed him off. "Zo what's the matter?"
"Munkustrap I'm not Alonzo."
Munk staggered backwards and stared at the tom before him.
"I-if you're not Zo then who are you?"
"Would you believe me if I said Deuteronomy?"
"Dad?!"
"Sh! Munk don't wake anyone else."
"B-but how did you… Alonzo did this?"
"Yes he proved to be the tom Coricopat and Tantomile foretold. Listen son we must free them all. And I will join the fight."
"How?"
"My entire ache is gone and I know how to free our friends. Thanks to Alonzo I will be able to fight alongside my tribe once more."
Munkustrap grinned predatory. "Let's go tell the toms shall we?"
TBC
To all my reviewers - Thanks for all the copliments I feel really happy:)
TeenageMutantNinjaHamster - I always like to make my readers happy:)
Insanity's Childe - I'm happy you like it since it was your request:)
Roselna - Thanks for the compliment on the myth, I didn't mean to make it so gory it just happened:S
Ljuba - I hope I update fast enough for you:)
raptoregg64 - I'm happy you liked the Einstein commet use it as much as you want:)