A/N: It's almost Christmas day, but us humans aren't the only ones to celebrate! In this chapter, the Jellicles are rejoicing too!
Just saying, the start might look like I'm about to do a Frozen/Cats crossover. It wasn't done on purpose at first, but when I noticed I added a little bit more. ;)
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Chapter 14: The Ball
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The Junkyard
The fourth full moon of the year
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The moon was shining bright on the Junkyard that night, but not a cat was to be seen. Just a single piece of insulation… but wait, there was a queen! The wind blew calmly as she ceased to hide. She couldn't keep it in, Heaviside knows she tried.
"Jellicles, come, let's all rejoice," Grizabella sang.
Gus appeared on top of the car and continued: "Tonight we are having a Jellicle Ball."
"And until we make the Jellicle Choice," Buster added from the other side of the clearing.
"We dance, and dance, until we fall!" Jellylorum sang.
Several other Jellicles now appeared all around the clearing. They all sang together: "Tonight, no Jellicle will sleep, we sing for the Everlasting Cat. Tonight, no Jellicle will weep, that's why we are a Jellicle cat!"
They continued singing, and when they reached the end of the song, they stopped and went back to the sides of the clearing, leaving Grizabella alone in the center. A stripe of moonlight shone upon her like a spotlight as she started an elegant dance. She swirled around as the other Jellicles watched in amazement. She ended with her head bowed down and her front paws stretched in front of her.
In the shadows behind her, Gus gave his youngest son a gentle push. Skimbleshanks knew this was his cue and he rushed onto the clearing. It was a big honor for him to do the intro to the Invitation. "Jellicle cats, come out tonight, Jellicle cats, come one, come all!" As he was singing, the Jellicles stepped out of their hiding spots again and started to gather in the middle. "The Jellicle Moon is shining bright, Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball, Jellicle cats, come out tonight, Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball!"
As usual, the Head Protector did the rest of the Invitation, and Buster spread his arms in front of the other Jellicles: "Jellicle cats meet once a year at the Jellicle Ball, where we all rejoice!" At the word 'rejoice' the Jellicles visibly cheered up a bit from their previously serious state. They soon became serious again, though, as Buster continued: "And the Jellicle Leader will soon appear, and make what is known as the Jellicle Choice. When 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." He looked up to the sky. The Jellicle Moon was shining bright indeed, and so were the countless stars. There were very few clouds, which was good of course. "For waiting up there is the Heaviside Layer, full of wonders one Jellicle only will see. And Jellicles ask because Jellicles dare: who will it be?"
"Who will it be?" they all repeated. Buster gave the signal and they all went their separate ways. Several cats greeted each other, and some were giving signals for last minute preparations. Buster had just shaken Gus's paw, when he saw a large, brown figure coming out of the shadows on the other side of the clearing. "Well, of all things…" he spoke out loud. "Can it be really?"
Gus turned around. "Yes, it is!"
"No," Jennyanydots said, "It's too early!"
"Come on now, Jenny," Deuteronomy said as he reached the other Jellicles. "My legs may be tottery, I must go slow, but that doesn't mean I should miss half of the Ball!"
The Jellicles continued what they were doing and chatted cheerfully while Buster talked to his leader. "You are earlier than usual."
"Indeed, I am," he answered."
"Is there a particular reason?"
"I left early."
"Why?"
"Because the Everlasting Cat showed me exactly who I should choose."
Buster nodded and walked over to Gus. "Gus, prepare your stuff for the play, we'll do one more act in the meantime." Gus nodded and motioned to his oldest son, who then disappeared behind a pile of junk.
Deuteronomy sat down on the tire and watched as the Jellicles performed. He really enjoyed watching his tribe, and he was glad he arrived a little earlier this year.
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Meanwhile, in a den far enough from the clearing to mute the sounds of the Ball, the kittens were sleeping soundly. Or, at least, that's what they were supposed to do…
"Tag! You're it!" Macavity yelled as he bumped into his brother.
"Wait…" Munkustrap puffed, catching his breath, "I'm exhausted. Aren't we supposed to sleep?"
"Do you want to sleep while our parents are partying?"
"… No, but can we do something less active, perhaps?"
"Oh, I know! One of us is the criminal, and the other has to catch him! You'll never get me, I'm not there!" Macavity said as he playfully jumped around his brother.
"Macavity, I said less active."
"Oh… How about we go talk to the girls and see if they want to do something?"
"Sounds good," Munkustrap said, and they walked to the other room, where Buster's daughters, Demeter and her sister Bombalurina, were chatting on a pink pillow. As soon as they noticed the two toms, they stopped talking and looked at the intruders.
"Hi," Demeter said, and Bombalurina burst out giggling.
"What's so funny?" Munkustrap asked.
"Oh, nothing," Demeter said with an innocent look on her face.
"We were not talking about you or anything," Bombalurina said, which gained her a 'shush' and a poke in her side from Demeter.
"Really?" Munkustrap asked as he lifted an eyebrow.
"Yes, really," Demeter said, clearly trying to hold in her laughter.
"Okay, since the two of you apparently weren't doing anything interesting," Munkustrap started, after which Bombalurina burst into laughter again. "Can I continue?" he asked with an annoyed look on his face. Bombalurina nodded between giggles, and he continued: "As I was saying, since you weren't doing anything interesting, we wondered if perhaps you two would want to do something with us."
"Like what?" Demeter asked.
"I don't know, I guess we'll have to find something."
"Oh, and please not one of those stupid queenly games," Macavity said.
"Like what?" Demeter asked again.
"Like, uh… I don't know," Macavity muttered.
"Hey, look over here!" Bombalurina shouted as she searched in a drawer (which didn't have to be opened, since there was no cupboard around it). "What about this?" she asked as she held up a deck of cards.
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"Who goes there? Show yourself!"
"Don't you recognize my shadow?"
"Is… is that you, Chuck?"
"No, it is me, the Fiend!"
"… No… it can't be…"
"Are you surprised to see me still alive?"
"I… I am so glad you are!"
"Oh? Last time I checked it was you who pointed a gun at me!"
"Oh, please, there just has been a terrible misunderstanding! I… I never wished to turn against you!"
"You can tell that to the devil when you see him!"
"No! Please, don't hurt me! What is it that you want? Money? You want money? I can give you money, everything you want!"
"I don't want money."
"I can… I can clean your name! I have contacts… I can tell the Colonel and the judge…"
"It's too late for that now, Cinnamon. The only thing that can satisfy me now, is revenge!"
*click* "Stop right there! If you take one more step, I will shoot!"
"And you think that will stop me?"
"Stop! I told you not to step forward! I will shoot!"
"Do it. I dare you. Then, you shall see…"
*bang* (lights go out)
The Jellicles applauded as Gus and Asparagus bowed.
Deuteronomy clapped as he rose from the tire. "Very well done, just as good as your father! Gus, I think you have a worthy successor!"
Gus and son walked away to put away the attributes. "See, I knew you could do it," Gus said as he put his paw around his son's shoulder.
"Look dad, I enjoyed playing for the tribe, but I don't know if I want to perform on a real stage."
"I know, but I am very proud of you. Now, let's get back, the midnight dance is about to start."
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"Seven of spades."
"Nine of diamonds."
"King of hearts."
"That's not possible! You played the king of hearts two minutes ago!"
"Not true!"
"It is! Macavity cheats! Macavity cheats!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Bomba, Mac, stop it right now!" Munkustrap shouted. The two red cats stopped their arguing and looked at Munkustrap. "Macavity," he asked, "Are you cheating?"
"Of course not!"
"Show me your cards."
"What? No! She just doesn't like it when she loses! Hey, my cards! Now who's cheating!"
Munkustrap searched through Macavity's cards. "Macavity, why do you have three aces of spades?"
"See, told you! I know he cheats at cards!" Bombalurina yelled and pointed.
"It's not my fault! That deck of cards was mixed with other decks! You should have checked it before we started to play!"
"But you could have told us when you noticed," Munkustrap said. "Also, you seem to be the only one to have the same cards multiple times."
"Cheater," Bombalurina said and stuck out her tongue.
"Guys, I think it's better if we stop playing," Demeter said as she put her cards down.
"Fine, I don't want to play with a cheater anyway."
"Bomba, you can stop now," Munkustrap said as he assembled the cards that were scattered on the floor. "It's almost midnight, I think it's best if we get some sleep."
As the two sisters laid down on the pink pillow, the two brothers went back to the other room of the den. As they were lying on a soft blanket, Macavity said: "Demeter is pretty, isn't she?"
"Yes," Munkustrap said, "She is."
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"And now, the time has come for the mating dance! And I do believe we have candidates, don't we, Asparagus?"
"Yes, indeed. Jellylorum, may I have this dance from you?"
Jellylorum smiled and took his paw. They danced under the Jellicle Moon, and all Jellicles watched as the new couple was bound by the Everlasting Cat. As they approached the end of the dance, the others got closer together as well, and mates laid down next to each other. Deuteronomy looked around and saw Skimbleshanks lying particularly close to Jennyanydots. Well, he thought, I think I know who will do the dance next year. Grizabella leaned over to him and whispered: "I think we will have another child." Deuteronomy looked at her, and she gently rubbed her belly, and he smiled.
Suddenly, they heard the sound of bells far away, signifying that it was midnight. At the sound of the clocks, Skimbleshanks straightened, sniffing the air. He was soon followed by Cleopatra. One by one, the Jellicles rose and spread over the clearing.
It was time for the midnight dance.
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"Do you see that?"
"What?"
Tumblebrutus pointed at the sky, and the bright white orb that was hanging in it. "Full moon," he said.
"Oh," Grumbuskin answered. "Oh dear. The captain is going to be pissed when he finds out he forgot this year."
"Yeah, too bad he'll miss the party."
"You know, even though I'm not a fan of the fact that Griddlebone hangs around on the ship all the time, at least she distracts Growltiger."
"Yes," Tumblebrutus said as he looked at the door of Growltiger's cabin. "She satiates his hunger for revenge."
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"Oh, here you are," Cleopatra said as she sat down next to Pluto on the front of a car not far from the clearing. "Where were you? I have barely seen you since the Ball started."
"Yeah, you know, balls aren't that much fun when you can't dance," he answered with a bitter tone in his voice.
She sighed. "But you could at least be there, watch from the sides. I mean, Deuteronomy barely dances, so why don't you do like him?"
"I just… I can't stand watching them dance, knowing that I probably never will be able to be like them again. I mean, what kind of Jellicle am I, when I can't dance?"
A silence fell.
"Look, the midnight dance is just finished. It's the resting hour now, so at least come and join us now."
He finally gave in, and she sustained him as they made their way to the clearing.
"You know, Bustopher just arrived. It is said he often arrives during the resting hour. I have a feeling he doesn't really like dancing."
"He does, he just thinks it's too exhausting."
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"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…"
All Jellicles watched their leader, holding their breath, afraid to break the silence. Deuteronomy watched over his tribe and met several suspense-filled pairs of eyes. His voice was the only knife to cut the silence when he spoke.
"The Everlasting Cat has guided me in the past week," he said, "And he has showed me the right choice.
The Jellicles tensed, knowing now was the moment.
"Pluto," he finally said, "shall be the one to go to the Heaviside Layer."
All heads turned to look at Pluto, who was leaning against an oven in the back. He looked up in disbelief and his eyes met Deuteronomy's. The leader slowly nodded and held out his paw.
Up, up, up, past the Russell Hotel, up up up up, to the Heaviside Layer
As the Jellicles began to sing, Pluto walked forth towards his leader, as if he had never been injured.
Up, up, up, past the Jellicle Moon, up up up up, to the Heaviside Layer
With renewed strength, Pluto climbed onto the tire and took Deuteronomy's paw. The tire slowly began to float upwards, and a pack of clouds formed above the clearing. The tribe watched in amazement. As much as they had seen this ritual, it was stunning every time again. And as much as Pluto had seen it, he had never thought he would stand here one day himself.
A vague shape came down from the clouds. The paw of the Everlasting Cat. A bright light shone down from the clouds, and the claw touched the tire. Pluto looked at his leader one more time, who nodded with a smile. He looked at the tribe for the last time (at least, in this life).
The mystical divinity of unashamed felinity
He began to climb up. Soon, his head was in the clouds and he couldn't see them anymore, but he could still hear them.
Round the cathedral rang "Vivat!"
One more step, and he was completely swallowed by the clouds. Bright light was blinding him, and he started to feel strange, as if he stepped out of his body. He saw a vague figure, becoming more and more clear.
Life to the Everlasting Cat
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A/N: There. That's the only way I could make up for everything I've done to you. I hope you forgive me.
(Yes, I am talking to my own OC's. Just accept me for who I am, okay?)
Longest chapter of this story so far! I hope you liked it.