Everyone go check out BroadwayKhaos' "Random Jellicle Week!" contest/event thing:
.net/s/6196141/1/
It looks like a lot of fun! I'm definitely doing it.
But anyway, enough with the advertising. On with the story!
In hindsight, the Jellicle Ball was a blur to the Rum Tum Tugger. He remembered singing with Munkustrap, yet another "interruption" per say, but one with dramatically less offensive intentions. He remembered his gratitude when his brother had made no attempt to stop him.
He remembered the bagpipes. Oh Great Bast the bagpipes. And of course Munkustrap's reaction to said bagpipes. He was very proud of himself.
The Ball itself had gone amazing frankly. Dancing with Bomba, teasing, well, everyone, it had been a good time. Victoria's mating dance had gone over well, and he was surprised how well constructed it had been after only two days practice. This was why late engagements weren't generally suggested.
But then, she had shown up again.
He had decided to play it cool. He simply strutted past her, no sweat. Actions spoke louder than words in some cases, and he suspected this was one of them.
But then she sang. Her voice, so sorrowful yet beautiful, had pierced him. She finished and his father reached out for her, silently pleading for her to stay. But she left, and Old Deuteronomy hadn't followed.
The Rum Tum Tugger did though.
He followed her out of the clearing, his footsteps treading silently across the cold ground.
Not silently enough apparently. "What do you want?" Grizabella asked sadly.
Tugger wasn't sure how to respond. He honestly didn't know why he was here. He simply shrugged, his eyes full of sympathy.
"I don't want your pity," she said, walking away.
"Mother, wait," Tugger said, running up to her. "I just want to talk," he said quietly.
"Alright," she said, trying very hard to sound arrogant. "Go ahead and ask the question. The one everyone seems to be dying to know."
"Why did you leave me?"
Grizabella's haughty façade began to crack and her eyes began to water. "I didn't leave because of you. You were my only reason to stay." A moment of silence passed between the two cats. "You don't understand what it's like for me- what it's always been like. I hated living here, I hated the rules, but most of all I hated to people. None of them could understand my dreams of leaving the tribe. And I'd always planned to but-" she looked down sadly, "I was forced to choose a mate so the tribe could continue to have its patriarchs.
"Deuteronomy had always been kind to me... and I knew of his infatuation with me so I chose him. And I should have been happy. I suppose I could have chosen to be but... I knew in the back of my mind that I would never be content living here. Even after I gave birth to Macavity and later Munkustrap... I just wasn't happy. So I started testing my boundaries and began leaving for longer periods of time, hoping that one day I would decide to simply not return. And I almost didn't when I became pregnant with you..." she trailed off. Grizabella sat down on the cold junkyard floor and looked away from her son. Tugger sat down next to her, saying nothing.
"I still don't know how it happened," she continued. "To this day, I still can't fathom who your father must've been. I must have been drunk of something..." she trailed off. "I didn't cheat on your father during those months. At least, I don't think I did. And yet here you are.
"When you were born, I think that's the first time I ever truly felt like a mother. I never really had those feelings towards your brothers, but when I held little baby you in my arms, I felt this outburst of love stronger than I'd ever thought could be possible." She smiled faintly. "I knew you needed a better life than the one you would get on the streets, so I went back."
"It must have been hard," Tugger said softly.
"More than you can even imagine. But I did it. I ignored their glares and hateful looks. Only your father was glad to see me. He was always so kind to me... I knew I didn't deserve him. But everyone else was cruel to me, even my own family. Especially my sister. I finally just could take it anymore. So, when you were old enough, I left, promising myself I would never return."
"Why did you come back?"
"Adventure loses its meaning after a while. I knew I needed to go back someday, at the very least to see you. I put it off. I'm old now though and my health has been declining at a fast pace. Life in the streets is hard." She put her face in her hands. "I don't know how much time I have left. And when death begins to leer its hideous face, you start to put things into perspective. I needed to come back, to make amends. I knew it wouldn't be easy... but I didn't think it would be this difficult." She finally gave in to her sobs and her body began to tremble. Tugger could faintly hear the beginnings of Skimbleshanks' song, but ignored it, instead putting his arms around Grizabella. "I promise you," she said tearfully, "I never left because of you. I love you. And I'm so proud of you."
"There's little to be proud of," Tugger replied.
"I watched you sing," she said. "And although the young tom I saw was a bit... irreverent perhaps, I saw confidence. I saw humor. I saw someone who was willing to stand up against the tribe rules without feeling the need to leave. I didn't know who you were, but a part of me admired you. And then, you were my son. You've found your place here, which is something I could never do. I'm so proud of you." Tugger flashed her his most charming smile. She laughed. "A handsome tom such as yourself must be popular," she continued. "Tell me about yourself. Do you have a mate?"
"Sorta..." Tugger said, not especially wanting to continue on this topic. He didn't quite know how his mother would react if she knew where his feelings lie.
"Oh so it's not official yet, is it. Is it that one scarlet queen you were dancing with? She was quite beautiful."
"No, no. Bombalurina and I are just friends."
"Well, then who?"
As if on cue, Mistoffelees suddenly appeared in front of the duo. "I think something's wrong Tug," the tuxedo tom said weakly, collapsing on the ground.
Tugger caught Mistoffelees before his small body hit the floor. "Misto, look at me," he said. The black tom said nothing; he appeared to have fainted. Tugger quickly scooped him up, ignoring the pains that went through his arms as the tom began to spark.
Suddenly, he heard it. The shattering glass, the cries of confusion and fear, Demeter's screams. "Macavity!" he heard the golden queen yell.
Tugger turned fearfully to Grizabella. "You need to get out of here."
"Not without-"
"No," he interrupted. "I can't risk losing you again."
She nodded quickly and obeyed. Tugger turned his attention to Mistoffelees lying lifelessly in his arms. "Don't give in," he said.
Screams of terror erupted from the clearing. He heard a wicked laughter and knew that Macavity had finally decided to show himself. He waited until the noise died down, and then ran back to the Junkyard, Mistoffelees in hand.
Demeter stood alone in the clearing. He watched as she surveyed her surroundings, and then began to sing in her beautiful mezzo-soprano voice. Her voice was a bit timid at first, but as her song about the Mystery Cat and his crimes progressed, he saw a confidence he hadn't seen in years begin to reemerge. Power filled her voice, and Tugger found himself momentarily mesmerized. Reluctantly he shook it off and went to find Munkustrap. "What happened?" he said, once he had found his brother.
"Father has been taken," Munkustrap said bitterly. "He was stolen right in front of us." The silver tabby then noticed Mistoffelees. "Bast, what happened?"
"I'm not sure," Tugger replied. He absently noted Bombalurina's voice fill the clearing. "He appeared in front of me and fainted."
"Did he say anything?"
"He said there was something wrong. That's it. Then he was out."
Munkustrap said nothing. Suddenly his eyes filled with tears. "There must've been something I could have done to save him."
"Munk, don't-"
"Tugger, I was right there. And I did nothing. Who knows what Macavity will do to him. You remember how he despised him."
Tugger preferred not to dwell on it. "Munk, it's not your fault."
"I'm the tribe protector. Everything that goes wrong is my fault." He placed his head in his hands. "And now I've failed my duty."
"Look, if I wasn't carrying Misto, I would totally smack you right now. You work harder than anyone I know. And this is Macavity we're talking about. Not just some push-over alley cat- this is our brother. He didn't earn the title "The Napoleon of Crime" over nothing. There isn't anything you could have done."
The song ended, and suddenly Macavity reappeared, a sinister smile painted on his face. He gestured toward the corner of the clearing. Old Deuteronomy, looking a bit shaken but still in one piece, appeared. The Jellicles surrounded him, welcoming him back joyfully. Munkustrap stayed next to Tugger, completely in shock.
Only Demeter seemed unhappy. She glared at the Jellicle Patriarch suspiciously. Without warning, she jumped atop Old Deuteronomy.
Tugger watched in horror as his "father" disappeared and Macavity appeared in his place, attacking all the Jellicles within reach. Munkustrap grabbed his brother's shoulder. "Get out of here," the silver tabby said quickly. "Get Mistoffelees out of danger." Then, without missing a beat, he dashed out toward the clearing to face Macavity.
Tugger obeyed his brother and began to run, holding Mistoffelees close to him. He could still hear the chaos going on in the clearing when the tuxedo tom suddenly awoke. Mistoffelees clutched his head between his palms and cried out in pain.
Tugger gently placed him down. "Misto, what's wrong?" he asked quickly. "We can't stay here. Macavity is-"
"I can hear him, Tugger," Mistoffelees said, gritting his teeth. He began hyperventilating.
"Who? Quaxo?"
Mistoffelees nodded.
"Well then tell that bastard to go suck it. We're getting out of here," he said, scooping the small tom into his arms.
Suddenly, Mistoffelees exploded. At least, that's what it seemed like to Tugger. He felt himself drop the conjuring cat and fly backwards, his fur sizzling, pain ripping through his body. "Misto," Tugger grunted painfully, "don't you dare give into him. The tribe needs you now. It's your turn to come and save the day alright?"
Mistoffelees lay curled up in a tight ball, his coat still sparking dangerously. "He's just been biding his time, Tug. He says he'll strike any minute now."
Tugger stood up slowly, clutching an old chair for support. He attempted to take a step but his legs, hideously raw and burnt, gave out. He began dragging himself towards the tuxedo tom. "He's just trying to taunt you. You're more powerful than he is."
"Tugger, I'm-"
Tugger reached out and grabbed Mistoffelees' paw and dragged himself the final stretch. "Just focus on me, okay?" He curled his body around his companion's and began to sing softly, for that was as much as his damaged body could muster. It was the Jellicle Ball invitation, Mistoffelees' own solo, something Tugger hoped would help the conjuring cat remember who he was. "Jellicle Cats, come out tonight. Jellicle Cats, come one, come all…" Mistoffelees smiled faintly, and Tugger could tell it was working.
Suddenly the tuxedo tom kissed Tugger fiercely, and the maine coon felt a sudden surge of power flow through him. As the kiss deepened and quickly escalated in its passion, he felt the pain in his body begin to disappear. Mistoffelees broke away unexpectedly and began to tremble. Tugger, now fully healed, stood up and cradled his lover in his arms.
The only sound he heard was Mistoffelees' heavy breathing and his own footsteps. Macavity must have disappeared. "Misto, we need your help. You have to save dad okay. Before it's too late."
"I'm so weak Tug," Mistoffelees muttered faintly.
"I've seen you do amazing things. I know you can do this."
"Tugger I can't. Quaxo is going to come back. He's been building up all his energy, waiting for this. He's going to strike any moment now." They were just outside the clearing. It was almost completely dark; a single light lit up the scenery. "I'm scared Tug," he admitted.
"Me too."
"Would you sing for me?" he asked weakly. "One last time?"
Inspiration suddenly struck Tugger. He placed Mistoffelees down gently. "Wait for your cue," he said, climbing up the junk pile.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm going to sing Misto. And I'm going to do it right."
A feeling of complete hopelessness filled the hearts of every Jellicle as the statement rang out. "We have to find Old Deuteronomy," came the faint chorus, for it was the thought on everyone's mind.
And then suddenly, from within the darkness, a phrase was uttered, one that would go down in the history of the Junkyard forever. "You ought to ask Magical Mr. Mistoffelees, the original conjuring cat- there can be no doubt about that..."