Yes...you're not seeing things, the truth is after many years, yours truly has decided to gave a long due update to 'The War Game'. For those who have only just discovered this fic you probally don't know what I'm saying but it has been 3 years since I did anything with this fic due to a number of reasons with many things in real life such as living with my girlfriend and working. I've gotten into other interests too and seeing as this fic wasn't getting the attention I was hoping it would (though to be fair many other CATS based fanfics I've seen don't see to be doing much better) it sort of fell to the wayside. Also I did finish one other story and was thinking what to do next and I just stumbled upon this fic again which despite me thinking it wasn't that good, I was quite stunned that not only did it hold up pretty well but it did make me think that maybe I should finish what I set out what I started considering at this point the fic is reaching it's third and final act.

And yes, since that awful monstrosity known as that film came out (I haven't seen as it just looks, well, scary as hell) I felt I might do something in order to try and balance out things and maybe returning to this might be something to help the CATS fandom, if it's still intact. So anyway for those readers who have been waiting for and update and for the curious new readers who have found this story by accident or whatever, I would suggest starting from the beginning to jog your memory of where things are. And if you've done that, then let's return to the Junkyard where life is hell...

Chapter 17

Unlikely Allies

About two nights after Nicolae was murdered by Macavity, rumors had been going all around the cat world of London; all of which that made for rather unpleasant hearsay. They were of that Macavity was finally ready to begin his conquest of the city and to destroy those who stood in his way. To make matters worse, word of mouth had also said that he had even more terrible plans after he'd conquered London, though no one knew exactly what they were about and even if they did know them, no good natured tom or queen dared to even think what Macavity was planning on doing.

Oddly enough, the only ones who didn't seem to know about this were the two parties that this would've brought most concerned to; the Jellicle tribe and Adamin, though the later did vaguely had a thought the basic idea of what his former master was planning though had no idea of what was to happen afterwards for all cats.

Walking down a rather deserted and oddly quiet street, save for the few drunken humans making their way home from a nearby bar, Adamin was heading to his destination in which Nicolae had requested for him to do. The brown tabby felt really uncomfortable about doing this for as he was heading to the Jellicle Junkyard and the hope that he could get the Jellicles to join him to end Macavity's reign of terror once and for all…easier said than done of course.

True he now utterly despised Macavity for what he done, never mind murdering his best friend right in front of him, but the tom felt like this whole request by Nicolae was ludicrous. He couldn't help but think just how on earth was Adamin going to try and pull this off for really Adamin would've given up on the plan and run a mile.

No, more likely leave the city and the country altogether to save his own fur, yet this was a dying request from Nicolae for Adamin to achieve and the tabby was setting out to complete the task, even if Adamin's own doubts was screaming at him to stop this and escape while he could. The poor tom had never really lived life the easy way though that was to be expected when you had lived in the shadow of Macavity for most of your adult life.

However, as the he could see the Junkyard coming into a view (and sniffing out that certain Jellicle scent), Adamin knew by this point that there was no turning back and that his own actions could now shape the future for all. He began to feel more anxious about coming face to face with the whole Jellicle tribe, never mind the fact that he was aware of the horrors that Macavity had performed, though was unaware of a certain runaway queen.

"I don't know about this," Adamin uttered to himself as he came up towards the main entrance to the Junkyard, he felt like every step was taking would bring him, quite literally, one step closer to trouble.

The brown tabby kept muttering to himself and glanced up towards the cloudy night sky. "You know I'm only doing this for you, Nicolae. I'm going to have to face them all of them on my own and never thought I'd say this but…I wish I was dead like with you, yeah, it's ok for you, at least you wouldn't have to go through with this like with poor me here."

Wherever or not he was meant what he said to be sarcastic or actually really meant it, he had never felt more tense than he had previously felt, arguably more than whenever he faced Macavity. Finally, he stopped right at the gate stared ahead of him at the mounds of junk lying all around the yard.

The temptation to turn and run away as far as possible was just so easy for him, yet when it came to his dear friend's last request, he would never dare think about backstabbing Nicolae. For him, time seemed to stand still as he looked intently at the Junkyard and wondering if any Jellicle cat would show up and, more importantly, ask why was he here. Either way, there was now no turning back.

"Well then," Adamin sighed as he rubbed his paws together. "Here goes nothing."

With one step, the cautious tom stepped forward into the domain of the Jellicles. Adamin couldn't help but feel a sense of irony of returning the Junkyard as first time round, he had gone out to kill Pouncival along with that now disbanded group of toms; now he was back hoping that the Jellicles would help him. Oh, how life can be a barrel of laughs.

The yard was all silent, was there any Jellicle cat in the yard in that moment or, in a worst-case scenario, left the Junkyard and had settled elsewhere to escape from Macavity? He really couldn't blame them if they had.

He hadn't walked far until he heard a voice from nearby spotting him. "Halt there!"

Adamin looked up at one of the junk piles and could see that it was a white tom with black stripes, looking down on him. This was of course Alonzo. "What are doing here?"

"Just trying to find my way," Adamin replied with a hint of sarcasm. "Are you a Jellicle by chance?"

Alonzo stared at the brown with a look of suspicion. "Why yes…you look familiar, are you—?"

"One of Macavity's lot?" Adamin interrupted. "I was then…now I've got nothing and I'm just trying to find my new way in life."

The second in command to Munkustrap stared at Adamin with bafflement, almost as if the brown tom was speaking in riddles to Alonzo. "Look, I don't know why you're acting like this, but something tells me you are here for a certain reason."

Adamin was silent for a split second, and then he suddenly laughed. "So you do suspect me! Well seeing as I'm not from around here I guess you're going to take me in, right?" He really had nothing to lose here.

Alonzo sighed and shook his head, he had no idea what to do with what he thought was a total nut job that wanted to face his demise. "You're crazy…"

"Not much as Macavity," Adamin corrected. "In that he wants to wipe this tribe out for good and take over this city."

Once more it sounded like riddles to Alonzo, but this time he felt an uncertain chill up his spine as the words sunk in. "…What?"

"Yeah, thought that would get you're attention, son," Adamin replied crossing his arms. "I would be technically betraying Macavity for telling the details, but since I'm no longer working for him, well…"

This time Alonzo had had enough of the brown tom and walked up to him. "Ok, you are just…ugh, I don't know what to think. Anyway, I'm taking you in, you better have a damn good explanation for coming here!"

"I sure as hell have," Adamin smirked as Alonzo led him further into the junkyard. "You might not like me now, but I could be the guy that helps save your lives...if you don't kill me first that is."

XXX

Within a few minutes, they arrived into the centre of the yard and not surprisingly for Adamin; many of the Jellicles were giving him dirty looks for they all knew who this brown tabby was, not much so than Pouncival who couldn't believe this tom was back.

"Wait…you…your—"

"Hello again, lad," Adamin smirked. "I bet this is a fine how'd you do, isn't it?"

At that point, Munkustrap came in which he gave a glare towards his number two. "Alonzo, why'd you bring him here?"

"He came in under his own judgement," Alonzo explained. "He claims to be no longer working for Macavity."

Not to Adamin's surprise, many of the Jellicles around either scoffed at the thought, shook their heads or in the case of Rum Tum Tugger cried out, "Lying bastard!" The only ones who didn't do either of the above were Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer who could sense something about his claim that was genuine and even Old Deuteronomy who despite having expressionless look on his face seemed willing to listen.

"Let him speak," the tribe leader boomed and Munkustrap was stunned at this request.

"Father, he could be lying for all we know!"

"I said we'll hear his side of the story," Old Deuteronomy requested. "I can sense there is grieve and anger within this tom."

The silver tabby sighed in defeat and allowed the brown tomcat to move to the center of the junkyard in which the tribe all had their gazes fixed at him. "Listen all, I don't like you guys and I know sure as hell you don't like me, but recent circumstances have brought me here in that I wished never had to happen…"

He paused to gather his thoughts; his mind was still focused on the murder of Nicolae and his request that had sent him out here. His death really affected him. "Two nights ago, I was granted my freedom from Macavity, hence why I am here, but at the cost of a life…"

The tribe were confused by this, but it was Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer looked more horrified as they knew about the brutal laws of Macavity and they dreaded who it might be.

"Wait!" Mungojerrie called out with many looking back at him. "Please tell me I' wasn't…"

"It was," Adamin replied sadly, a tear running down his cheek. "Nicolae died at the claws of Macavity."

The two thieving calico cats looked utterly heartbroken, more so with Mungojerrie who had looked up to Adamin and Nicolae as older brother figures growing up and now knowing that one of them had been murdered in cold blood. How could this happen? The two of them embraced each other tightly with the female of the pair now sobbing her eyes out and it was then the tribe began to believe that Adamin was telling the truth.

"In fact, he is the reason why I'm here," the brown tom explained while trying to hold back his tears. "He lay there dying in my arms…and…he wanted he as his dying wish for me to help you. So here I am, if it wasn't for him saying that, I would've escaped from this city and left you to die at the hands of that bastard spawn of evil known as Macavity."

Silence filled the air as nobody knew what to say, until Pouncival spoke up. "Sir…I'm so sorry…but what does Macavity want really? Surely not just Jemima."

By now since Jemima ran away from the tribe, word had gotten around the tribe about Jemima's heritage thanks to Demeter confessing the truth and while many were shocked, it did answer many questions and many didn't want to think differently about Jemima despite this revelation about her.

"Your right son," Adamin answered. "Macavity is planning this almighty plan to take over London simply known as 'The War Game'."

"The War Game?" Tumblebrutus questioned.

"'Ang on, that name rings a bell," Rumpleteazer added rubbing her forehead. "Where 'ave I 'eard that befawer?"

"It's Macavity's ultimate plan," Adamin explained. "He has been planning this for years in which will see him, and his army take over all of London and no cat no matter who you are will be safe."

"Y-you mean enslavement?" Victoria uttered, her eyes growing wide with horror as Plato hurried over to wrap his arm around her waist.

"I would've thought originally," Adamin replied. "Though I suspect there is worse to follow knowing how crazy he is…"

No one wanted to know how worst things could get, they'd didn't want to live through more of this nightmare but deep down they all knew far worse was about to happen. It was then Adamin looked around at many of the tribe seeing all of them were there…all except one.

"Hang on a minute, where's…what's she called again?"

"Jemima…" Pouncival answered sadly and nearby, Demeter lowered her head sadly. "She…ran away."

"What happened?" Adamin asked, dread suddenly gripping him.

Tumblebrutus then spoke next, his face ridden with shame. "It was…my fault. I was put under a mind control spell and…I caused Jemima to run away from the tribe." He then looked over towards Pouncival and Demeter. "I'm so sorry…I really mean it."

Adamin's eyes widened. The mind control spell? He remembered prior before leaving Macavity, the evil tom did mention something about the spell and something about Jemima 'coming home'…

"Oh, Everlasting Cat NO!" Adamin cried.

"What's wrong?" Pouncival asked worriedly.

The brown tom clasped his paw over his mouth and looked at the younger cream and brown tom not knowing how to break Pouncival's heart, alas, he had to say it. "Lad…Macavity would've used him," looking over at Tumblebrutus, "as a pawn needing to scare Jemima away and right into his path…I fear she maybe already under his influence now."

Gasps and loud exclamations of horror from the Jellicle tribe followed, poor Demeter nearly fainted at hearing and thinking what had happened to her daughter; poor Demeter had been through so much hell.

"How dare he does that to Jemima!" Cried Admetus.

"We cannae stay here and dae nothin'!" Skimbleshanks added.

"We've got to go out and stop him!" Alonzo proclaimed boldly.

Those were just some of the angry words exchanged as before long the entire junkyard erupted in a series of many expressing their anger for what Macavity had done to Jemima, how to stop Macavity and what they would do with him if they met him. Pouncival looked helpless as he fell on his rear looking like his whole world had fallen apart and Adamin felt useless as he didn't know how to help out the young tom cat.

"ENOUGH!" Roared Munkustrap who had climbed to the top of a pile of junk in which managed to get everyone's attention. "Arguing is not going to help us. If what this tom tells us is true, then we do need to act now."

"I second that," Adamin agreed. "There is still a chance we can stop him because if we do, then his whole army will collapse as he is the linchpin that is holding them together. Fear of him is keeping them together and if you defeat him, then not only does his empire fall but we might just be able to save Jemima."

The brown tom then looked around the captive tribe who quite to Adamin's amazement seemed willing to help him; maybe Nicolae was looking down from above and helping him? "I'll need a volunteer force to join me. I can lead us the way to his lair, but I can't do this on my own, considering that I have been, well, somewhat relived of my duties…"

"I'll join you," Pouncival suddenly said, now looking like a tom with renewed purpose. "I love Jemima and will do anything I can to rescue my mate."

"Your mate? Wait, what?" Munkustrap stuttered and Pouncival blushed as he realized that he and Jemima had forgotten to tell the tribe about their announcement. However before anyone could react to this sudden news, another voice called out.

"You're not going without me," Tumblebrutus suddenly interrupted. "I know I've done pretty stupid things with you over the years, but I'm not giving up on you now, brother."

"We'll join yew," Rumpleteazer said.

"Justice fer Nicolae!" Mungojerrie added.

The sudden urge to help seem infectious as next Bombalurina stepped forward. "Don't go without me. Not leaving my niece in that bastard's claws."

"I'll help," Munkstrap said as he walked down the junk pile.

"No, please don't," Adamin insisted which made many, especially the silver tabby, to look stunned.

"What're you talking about? I'm the protector of this tribe!"

The brown tabby glanced over at Demeter. "Sir, I'm sorry to bring this up but…I'm aware you lost kittens…I'm so sorry."

Thinking about it made the silver tabby's heart sink in which he couldn't reply only slowly nod.

"Your mate has already lost her newborn kittens as well as her eldest daughter running away," Adamin explained. "The last thing she needs is to lose you out there as well the tribe. I don't want any young sons or daughters to lose a parent."

Though Munkustrap didn't want to admit it, Adamin was correct. Demeter didn't deserve more heartbreak and this perhaps was the right choice for her sake even if he so badly wanted to save Jemima like many others.

With a heavy sigh, Munkustrap nodded and looked over towards Alonzo who in turn seemed to know what the tribe leader was about to say. "You going?"

"You bet I am," Alonzo nodded.

Within the next half hour as it neared midnight, the Jellicle tribe was getting ready for what looked to be the most challenging period in their history with several them preparing to head off with Adamin to face Macavity, no longer were they going to suffer anymore terror from him. Alongside Adamin was Pouncival, Tumblebrutus, Alonzo, Bombalurina, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer that would be the small band of unlikely heroes that would head into the unknown.

There were many tearful goodbyes by the couples such as Alonzo with Cassandra, Tumblebrutus and Etcetera and even quite surprisingly Bombalurina and Rum Tum Tugger in which despite the big Maine Coon cat trying to not show any emotion, he was scared about losing his mate. It seemed everyone had a soft side somewhere.

Plato had wanted to go but seeing as he was to be an expected father, Adamin had rejected his offer not wanting to leave Victoria alone. However, it was Pouncival who didn't know how to feel either excited or afraid that they were going to rescue Jemima and hopeful stop Macavity.

His thoughts of what might happen were interrupted when he heard an older female voice call his name. "Pounce?"

He looked over to see Demeter standing nearby and he didn't know why, but he suddenly had the urge to hug her in which she did too, and they held each other close. "I'm so proud of you," Demeter smiled as they pulled away.

"How?"

"You are the perfect tom for my daughter," Demeter explained. "I remember when you were a young kitten, you and she were always together, and I did even think there was something between you two. Hearing you asking her to become your mate has generally made me feel happy that there will be something to look forward for."

The young tom blushed. "Well, I didn't really think much at that time, being young and dumb. But I'd do anything for her. Just hope there is time to save her."

The black and gold queen then placed her paws on his shoulders. "Promise me that she will come home safe?"

Pouncival didn't know if he could do it, but he wasn't going to give up and this was to be the moment in which he would grow up to save the love of his life. "I promise."

Demeter hugged him again. "Thank you, Pouncival. It will be nice to have a son-in-law like you."

"Does mean you'd have Tumble joining the family," Pouncival joked and the two shared a rare chuckle together. They would be needing anything to keep them going whatever was to happen.

After some more brave farewells, Adamin and Pouncival left the junkyard with their unlikely band of heroes headed off into the storm in the hopes of saving everyone…and one queen.

There we are. Sorry if it's not up the scratch and if I've disappointed for those who have been waiting for so long, I have just returned and needing to oil myself to get back into this world. So there is my Xmas present and I don't know what I'll update next but until then...catch you whenever!