Soft music floated in the air, a melody unknown to the living, but a peace
bringer to those who listened to it. The darkness was impenetrable as the
group of five made their way carefully through the woods that surrounded
the boundaries between the living and the dead. Ashes placed a gentle paw
on Snowball's shoulder, she was hurting more then she let on. "We are
almost there." He said softly, "Stardust wouldn't leave us to wander the
darkness unattended. she cares about us and everyone else." He paused as
Snowball looked up at him in sadness, "You probably already knew that
didn't you." A brief smile flickered over Snowball's solemn face, the only
answer he received.
After that single moment of discussion nothing was said as the light approached them and swallowed them whole. A golden light, pure, gentle, and warm, the entrance to Heaviside had been found and had accepted the weary group of travelers. Snowball brightened suddenly as she found herself and her family in a garden of delights, sweet smelling roses and rare flowers. The spirits that roamed were quite content and at peace, she recognized Victoria who was sitting on a low bench playing with some kittens. "It's beautiful." She murmured, "I wish I could stay here, among all this splendor." Snowball turned to her mate, "Mercy look around, welcome to our resting place." She said with a smile that made their recent troubles melt away into nothingness.
A winged queen with brilliant green eyes approached and led the group to where the rest of the newly arrived spirits were waiting. She said nothing, but had made note of the similarities that they had in their mannerisms and appearance. This group reminded her of how it had been when Victoria had been brought to their circle.
Stardust sighed in sadness and understanding as she left the body of her sister in a darkened room for the menders to clean up. Pressing a gentle kiss to the cold blood matted head fur; Stardust turned and walked out to where she knew several spirits were waiting. "Greetings, and welcome to Heaviside." Stardust stated simply as she approached the waiting spirits.
Snowball and her mate looked up suddenly as they heard the gentle voice speak and approach. "Stardust, why did this happen? Why couldn't it have been someone else?" Snowball leaned against her mate's side and then spoke again, "Macavity didn't feel threatened by us, he just wanted to eliminate us for the fun of it."
Stardust nodded in understanding, "Macavity is a complex character, and it is usually difficult to understand why he does what he does." Stardust smiled briefly as she noticed the silver and white kitten that had flung itself at her legs, "Silverwings, such an appropriate name." Stardust picked the kitten up and nuzzled her gently. "It is time to process you, all of you follow me and the other cats who have been waiting for my arrival."
A few moments later, Ashes glanced around the room to which they had been taken. Beautifully furnished, it reminded him of a stage that his owner had danced on several times. "Snowball, if we don't see each other again on Earth, I was glad to be the protector of your family. You and Mercy were perfect for each other, and you raised a fine family." Ashes paused and hugged Snowball gently, "Be at peace sister, Stardust always knows what she is doing."
Stardust smiled, "speaking of which, Snowball I need to speak with you in private. Mercy, Silverwings, Ashes, and Puff, my little girl will come to lead you to where you can rest and think for a bit." Stardust nodded briefly to the gray and gold queen who had approached quietly, "Angel you do remember Uncle Ashes don't you?" she inquired politely.
"Of course momma, here let me carry Silverwings." Angel replied, her voice chiming softly like wind chimes. "Follow me please." Angel led the small group through a nearby door to where the resting rooms were contained.
Stardust held out her paw to Snowball and led her sister to her private chambers to speak. "I have decided to give you a second chance." She began as soon as they had entered the quiet room.
Snowball shook her head in disbelief, "but why me, couldn't you have found someone worthier of a second chance?" She inquired, her voice holding many questions that she knew she should not ask. Looking around the room briefly, Snowball took note of the scattered rose petals, the large mirror that was near the bed. The mirror showed different images, pausing briefly on each one in case Stardust needed to take note or travel to earth to handle some mild misfortune. As Snowball watched, the mirror stopped on an image of the jellicle junkyard. She could see Mistoffelees weeping openly as Tugger and Jemima tried their best to comfort him. "Sister, why is Mistoffelees upset?" she inquired as her sister sat down on a comfortable chair.
"Because he found out that you had been murdered and that I couldn't do a thing to prevent it." Stardust paused, "he had fallen in love with you, which is a good thing considering that I have a proposition for you."
"A proposition?" Snowball echoed confused by the choice of words her sister had used. "What sort of proposition?"
"A good one. You get to return to Earth, and live again. Be with the jellicles and protect them. However, you won't be the same queen you were when you left." Stardust motioned for Snowball to sit beside her, "I will give you some magical abilities, and begin training you. You will become a healer."
Snowball looked at the mirror again, "will I be with Mistoffelees when I return?" She asked, "He seems to need someone to be there with him, to love him and to care for him." Snowball paused, "Are there rules that I must follow for my return to the living?"
Stardust nodded her head once, "you must not go and attack Macavity, that would be wrong and putting your life at risk again won't help the jellicles. In addition, you are to contact me every so often with a report of how things are going. Mistoffelees and Coricoprat and Tantomile will be there to assist you should you need any help whatsoever." Stardust paused, "and you must work with your powers and become used to them, the atmosphere on earth makes it difficult for magical cats to survive, you must be used to your abilities before you can work on advanced magic."
Snowball hugged Stardust suddenly, "I accept your proposition. but might I rest a little while sister. It has been a long road, and I have the feeling that it will be an even longer road ahead of me."
Stardust nodded, "you are to sleep here, I will share a chamber with you, that way if you have difficulty with the first few weeks of training then I will be here to help guide you. It will take some time before I can grant you release back to Earth, but I'm sure you will learn quickly." Stardust kissed Snowball's forehead gently, "sleep well, I will bring food to you when you awake."
A/N I am leaving it there because I feel like it and I am so incredibly mean and wicked now. Do not worry; there will be more. just when I do not have to contemplate the brick wall of a writer's block. Please review. Thanks.
After that single moment of discussion nothing was said as the light approached them and swallowed them whole. A golden light, pure, gentle, and warm, the entrance to Heaviside had been found and had accepted the weary group of travelers. Snowball brightened suddenly as she found herself and her family in a garden of delights, sweet smelling roses and rare flowers. The spirits that roamed were quite content and at peace, she recognized Victoria who was sitting on a low bench playing with some kittens. "It's beautiful." She murmured, "I wish I could stay here, among all this splendor." Snowball turned to her mate, "Mercy look around, welcome to our resting place." She said with a smile that made their recent troubles melt away into nothingness.
A winged queen with brilliant green eyes approached and led the group to where the rest of the newly arrived spirits were waiting. She said nothing, but had made note of the similarities that they had in their mannerisms and appearance. This group reminded her of how it had been when Victoria had been brought to their circle.
Stardust sighed in sadness and understanding as she left the body of her sister in a darkened room for the menders to clean up. Pressing a gentle kiss to the cold blood matted head fur; Stardust turned and walked out to where she knew several spirits were waiting. "Greetings, and welcome to Heaviside." Stardust stated simply as she approached the waiting spirits.
Snowball and her mate looked up suddenly as they heard the gentle voice speak and approach. "Stardust, why did this happen? Why couldn't it have been someone else?" Snowball leaned against her mate's side and then spoke again, "Macavity didn't feel threatened by us, he just wanted to eliminate us for the fun of it."
Stardust nodded in understanding, "Macavity is a complex character, and it is usually difficult to understand why he does what he does." Stardust smiled briefly as she noticed the silver and white kitten that had flung itself at her legs, "Silverwings, such an appropriate name." Stardust picked the kitten up and nuzzled her gently. "It is time to process you, all of you follow me and the other cats who have been waiting for my arrival."
A few moments later, Ashes glanced around the room to which they had been taken. Beautifully furnished, it reminded him of a stage that his owner had danced on several times. "Snowball, if we don't see each other again on Earth, I was glad to be the protector of your family. You and Mercy were perfect for each other, and you raised a fine family." Ashes paused and hugged Snowball gently, "Be at peace sister, Stardust always knows what she is doing."
Stardust smiled, "speaking of which, Snowball I need to speak with you in private. Mercy, Silverwings, Ashes, and Puff, my little girl will come to lead you to where you can rest and think for a bit." Stardust nodded briefly to the gray and gold queen who had approached quietly, "Angel you do remember Uncle Ashes don't you?" she inquired politely.
"Of course momma, here let me carry Silverwings." Angel replied, her voice chiming softly like wind chimes. "Follow me please." Angel led the small group through a nearby door to where the resting rooms were contained.
Stardust held out her paw to Snowball and led her sister to her private chambers to speak. "I have decided to give you a second chance." She began as soon as they had entered the quiet room.
Snowball shook her head in disbelief, "but why me, couldn't you have found someone worthier of a second chance?" She inquired, her voice holding many questions that she knew she should not ask. Looking around the room briefly, Snowball took note of the scattered rose petals, the large mirror that was near the bed. The mirror showed different images, pausing briefly on each one in case Stardust needed to take note or travel to earth to handle some mild misfortune. As Snowball watched, the mirror stopped on an image of the jellicle junkyard. She could see Mistoffelees weeping openly as Tugger and Jemima tried their best to comfort him. "Sister, why is Mistoffelees upset?" she inquired as her sister sat down on a comfortable chair.
"Because he found out that you had been murdered and that I couldn't do a thing to prevent it." Stardust paused, "he had fallen in love with you, which is a good thing considering that I have a proposition for you."
"A proposition?" Snowball echoed confused by the choice of words her sister had used. "What sort of proposition?"
"A good one. You get to return to Earth, and live again. Be with the jellicles and protect them. However, you won't be the same queen you were when you left." Stardust motioned for Snowball to sit beside her, "I will give you some magical abilities, and begin training you. You will become a healer."
Snowball looked at the mirror again, "will I be with Mistoffelees when I return?" She asked, "He seems to need someone to be there with him, to love him and to care for him." Snowball paused, "Are there rules that I must follow for my return to the living?"
Stardust nodded her head once, "you must not go and attack Macavity, that would be wrong and putting your life at risk again won't help the jellicles. In addition, you are to contact me every so often with a report of how things are going. Mistoffelees and Coricoprat and Tantomile will be there to assist you should you need any help whatsoever." Stardust paused, "and you must work with your powers and become used to them, the atmosphere on earth makes it difficult for magical cats to survive, you must be used to your abilities before you can work on advanced magic."
Snowball hugged Stardust suddenly, "I accept your proposition. but might I rest a little while sister. It has been a long road, and I have the feeling that it will be an even longer road ahead of me."
Stardust nodded, "you are to sleep here, I will share a chamber with you, that way if you have difficulty with the first few weeks of training then I will be here to help guide you. It will take some time before I can grant you release back to Earth, but I'm sure you will learn quickly." Stardust kissed Snowball's forehead gently, "sleep well, I will bring food to you when you awake."
A/N I am leaving it there because I feel like it and I am so incredibly mean and wicked now. Do not worry; there will be more. just when I do not have to contemplate the brick wall of a writer's block. Please review. Thanks.