(A/N: Ok, Grandma, this one's for you. I sat through both the stage musical and the movie to come up with this. I'm sorry it's so short, but it's all I managed to squeeze out. I did the best I could, so I hope you like it. For my other readers, I hope you enjoy it too. Musicals aren't really my thing, so it was hard for me to get any inspiration or come up with an idea, but I did manage to get something, so here we go. Oh, and I don't mean that this is a musical, just that it came from a musical, just in case you didn't know.)
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
"A NEW LIFE BEGINS"
The moon was shining brightly tonight. Almost abnormally bright. But that was because this wasn't a normal moon. No, a moon like this was what was known as a Jellicle Moon, at least amongst a certain group. And it only appeared on nights where the Heaviside Layer opened. It was a sacred night, during which the Jellicle Ball was held by the Jellicle Cat Tribe, a name that quite literally translated to "dear little cats".
Bathing in the light of this moon, the white cat known as Victoria still wasn't entirely familiar to all the ins and outs of it though. She was, after all, the newest member of the tribe, after her owner had abandoned her one night on the streets of Central London in the City of Westminster during the last Jellicle Moon. The Jellicle Cats had found her that night and accepted her as one of them, welcoming her into the tribe.
So much had changed for Victoria since then. And while being rejected by her owner had hurt, what she had gotten in return was something she would never trade for anything. She now had a new family, one that accepted her wholeheartedly.
Tonight, though, one of them would be leaving their tribe. On the nights of the Jellicle Moon, the elder of their tried, Old Deuteronomy, would choose one of them to rise up to the Heaviside Layer so they would be reborn into a new life where they could be all they wanted to be, but never had the chance in this life.
There were many reasons why one would want to start a new life. Some selfishly just wanted to live all over again, some felt they deserved it for living such fabulous lives and felt they had earned another one, some were old and simply weren't ready to die or feared whatever waited for them after death, some didn't get to accomplish what they wanted in their current life and wanted another chance to live, some had lived unhappy or miserable lives and wanted a chance at happiness again. Yes, there were many reasons why one would like to start anew. Old Deuteronomy had, in fact, lived several lives herself before taking over as the tribal leader. Victoria wondered if, perhaps, this ritual was related to the human's claiming that cats had nine lives.
But while all of the tribe attended the ball, where those that sought a new life would sing and dance about their current lives in the hopes to be chosen for a new one, not all who attended actually went for chance to be chosen. Some were perfectly happy and content with their lives and simply wished to bear witness the sacred event and be there for their brethren.
Victoria was in that boat. She was, in fact, very happy with her life, and had no desire to be reborn. Sadly though, she could not be there to attend the ball tonight, even though she wanted to, for there was something else, something even more important, that that required her attention, so she had to miss it.
She let out a regretful sigh as she wondered who Old Deuteronomy would choose tonight. She would have preferred to see the event itself, but she was sure her mate would tell her all about it later. He was attending the ball, not as a candidate for the Jellicle Choice, as he too was quite happy with his life, but for another reason.
A smile grazed Victoria's face as she thought about her mate. Mr. Mistoffelees had been one of the most welcoming members of the Jellicle Cats. He, along with Munkustrap, had both taken an interest in her the moment they met. She too had developed an interest in them, and had danced with them both that night. In the end though, she had ended up choosing the meek Mistoffelees, who had won her over with his compassion, bravery, loyalty, and determination. He had even risked himself saving her from a dog when she had been abandoned by the mischievous twins, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer. She even fond of his wacky nature to be endearing.
She let out a small chuckle as she remembered her first impression of her mate. He was quiet, he was small, he was black, from his ears to the tip of his tail. His manner was vague and aloof, and you would think there was nobody shyer. But he could creep through the tiniest crack or on the narrowest rail, or pick any card from a pack, and was equally cunning with dice. He could always deceive you into believing he was only hunting for mice. He could play any trick with a cork, or a spoon and a bit of fish paste.
Yes, never was there ever a cat so clever as Magical Mr. Mistoffelees. And after what happened at the last ball, both Victoria and he thought it would be best if he was present just in case anyone tried to stir up trouble again. After the sinister Macavity, another magical, but also criminal, cat had tried to manipulate events to force Deuteronomy to pick him as the Jellicle Choice by eliminating the competition, he had caused the tribal leader to disappear when she refused.
The tribe had been left in dismay at the disappearance of their leader, but then Victoria had come up with the idea of Mistoffelees using his own magic to conjure up Deuteronomy. And at the faith she showed in him, and her and the rest if the tribe's encouragement, he had been able to bring the old matriarch back from wherever Macavity had magicked her away to. It was then that Victoria knew she wanted to be with, choosing him over Munkustrap for her mate, even dancing the mating dance, Pas de Deux, with him at the ball.
She knew he wanted to be here for her now, but she had insisted that he go to the ball as a precaution in case anyone tried to cause trouble. But, truthfully, that didn't seem likely, as no one had seen Macavity since the last Jellicle Moon. He had somehow managed to get stuck on top of the Nelson's Column monument in Trafalgar Square, and his magic hadn't been enough to get him down.
Eventually, some humans had eventually come along and gotten him down. No one in the tribe was sure who the humans had been. Some said it was animal control who had taken him to a shelter, others said it was an animal catcher who brought him to the pound, and yet others said that it was some illegal animal snatchers who grabbed cats and dogs off the streets and brought them to animal labs. Whatever the case, no one had seen or heard from Macavity since.
Without the criminal cat around, there shouldn't be any trouble. None of his former underlings had been causing any problems since then, and even Bombalurina had stopped causing trouble. So without their ringleader pulling their strings, all should go well. But still, Mistoffelees was there as a precaution, just in case.
Victoria still couldn't believe the depths that Macavity had gone to for the chance to get a new life. In her opinion, it should go to someone who truly deserved or needed it. Like the one who had been chosen that night. A sad and lonely cat named Grizabella, a former member of the tribe who had been exiled for a number of reasons, including her past allegiance to Macavity.
While the rest of the tried either shunned or ignored her, Victoria's curiosity had her approaching the former glamorous cat, and heard her song. The level of loneliness and despair in Grizabella's voice at the regret and feeling of abandonment and desire for acceptance and happiness had touched the depths of Victoria's soul and made it feel as if her heart was being ripped out. She knew then and there who Old Deuteronomy should pick for the Jellicle Choice, for she too knew what it was like to simply be wanted. And so, despite the tribe's disapproval, she had brought Grizabella before the matriarch.
She had been right. As Grizabella had sung about her memories of the time when she was happy and the hope of finding happiness again with each new day, only to find more dismay as the night approached, she had touched the hearts of not only Deuteronomy, but the rest of the tribe as well, even those who openly despised her. Grizabella had put everything into her song, and it had seemed to become too much for her, but with Victoria's support, she had been able to deliver her full heartfelt sympathy to the tribe.
There truly had been no contest, and not a single tribe member disagreed with Deuteronomy's decision of choosing Grizabella to go to the Heaviside Layer for a new life. And so they had all gathered around to watch as she had rose into the sky as the morning sun lit up the city. Victoria had been happy for her, and truly wished her all the best in her new life, hoping she would find true happiness during it. And as Grizabella had disappeared into the sky, Deuteronomy had declared Victoria to be one of them, claiming that she deemed her truly worthy of being a Jellicle cat.
Yes, it had certainly been an interesting first Jellicle Ball for Victoria, and she wondered what a more normal one would be like without someone throwing things into disorder. Unfortunately, she had not been able to see it this time around, but she would definitely see the next one.
With a small sigh, she turned her attention to the reason she had been unable to attend the ball. Curled up by her side was a litter of kittens, her and Mistoffelees' children, who had been born just over a week ago. She hadn't been able to attend because she needed to be with them. There were five in total, and they were darling things. Victoria could tell already though that they would indeed be true Jellicle cats. None of them had been given any names yet, but that wasn't unusual for kittens this young.
They were sleeping now, but even if they weren't, they were still too small to open their eyes. It should be any day now though, and both Victoria and Mistoffelees looked forward to when they finally did, and took in the world for the first time. And as the morning rays of light began to spread over the city, they began to stir.
Victoria's attention went from her kittens over to the Egyptian Theater. She could see the theater's chandelier rising up into the sky, flying over the lion statue she knew the rest of the tribe would be gathered around as they watched the Jellicle Choice rise up, up, up past the Russell Hotel, past the Jellicle Moon, to the Heaviside Layer. Victoria wondered who Deuteronomy had chosen this time for a new life.
Her attention was drawn back to her kittens as they awoke upon dawn's light falling over them, and they began to move around. Her gaze was drawn to one in particular. The standout, for lack of a better word, who looked nothing like her siblings. Neither Victoria nor Mistoffelees knew why this one had come out so different, but she they had a suspicion that Deuteronomy knew, as the old matriarch always seemed to have a knowing smile whenever she saw her, but would never say anything about it.
But as Victoria watched, the kitten in question slowly lifted its head, and she watched as it opened its eyes for the first time and looked up at her. She inhaled deeply as they locked eyes, and Victoria was amazed by what she saw. She recognized those eyes; she had seen them before. The last time she had seen them though, they had been filled with the most profound sadness and loneliness. These were the same eyes as back then, only now they were full of hope and happiness.
There was something else in those eyes too. They were not the eyes of wonder and curiosity that other kittens had. Instead, they held wisdom and experience. And recognition. Yes, those eyes recognized Victoria, even though they had never before opened before today. And Victoria suddenly knew and understood why this kitten looked different from her siblings, and why those eyes were so full of hope and happiness. She didn't know why she or Mistoffelees, or anyone else for that matter, hadn't recognized it before, but the kitten's fur coat was the same as the cat Victoria had last seen with these eyes. Eyes were the window to the soul after all. Had that been the reason behind Deuteronomy's knowing smile? It had to be; the old matriarch must have figured it out right away.
Joyful tears crept up Victoria's own eyes, and her daughter's eyes began to fill with tears of happiness as well. Was this a coincidence, or were there some powers at be at work? Victoria didn't know, nor did she care, but she would see to it that her kittens, and this one in particular, would know nothing but love and happiness in their lives, so much so that they, like their parents, would never have any desire to want to be reborn into a new life.
Leaning down, she gave the kitten in question a loving lick, and then nuzzled it affectionately. "Let the memory live again, my darling Grizabella," she told the kitten lovingly. "The night is over, a new day has begun."
THE END
(A/N: Ok, so, that happened. Hope you liked it, Grandma. Again, sorry it was so short, but you gave me such an out of my element request. Like I said, this was the best I could do. To my other readers, um, yeah, I guess I hope you liked it too. Let me know what you think. Stories based off musicals aren't exactly my forte, so I'd appreciate the feedback.)