Aaand this is the end of this thing. I apologize for posting the last chapter a few days later, things happened and I couldn't edit what was left of the story on time Uu But here it is! My longest multi-chapter(and actually completed) story.
This is where I would say 'this was an awesome ride' and things like that, but I don't feel this is the fic for that. However, I did enjoy writing this and I'm proud to say I can add a 'completed multi chapter fic' to the list of big projects things I was able to do c:
Now about this chapter: this is where most of the scenes(that I'll comment on in the notes at the end) were changed or deleted. Around 2.5k words were taken out both to shorten the story and because I felt they were boring. So here's the final version of all that. I'm aware with our bastard cat away from the farm this chapter feels different at first, but half through it there's something that fixes that ;)
oOo
The travel is quiet, besides of the sound of the car moving and classic music coming from the radio that the moustached human seems to enjoy.
Pidsley spends most of it sleeping on the back seat, over a blanket placed there so he won't leave unwanted hair. In the little moments when he's awake, the cat wonders about some things.
This is again a new life, the third out of nine in a way. But what kind of life is waiting for him now? City life again? An expensive department filled with luxuries? Another small family or a big one? Please tell him there aren't going to be any children there-
His thoughts shift from the future to the past at some moment, questions like how things are going to be now that he's gone, or if the rest of the animals are happy without him there cross him mind more than once.
None of the thought reach a conclusion by the time they arrive. Pidsley takes out his head from the window to stare the huge house that the human nods satisfied to indicate that yep, it's his new home, and Pidsley mouth can't do anything but drop in a mix of excitement and shock at the sight.
Yeah, screw them if they are happy, Pidsley is going to be just as happy in his new life anyways.
oOo
There are a lot of differences between living in a town, a farm and a mansion away from everything.
Pidsley doesn't know where to begin to describe all the new things from his new life.
The house—not really mansion, but for an animal his size it looks like one—is all his to explore in his first day there. From outside it looks old, but well-kept, with metallic gates that lead to a cemented path surrounded by a colourful garden, and a good amount of windows that Pidsley will sure love to lie under their sun rays in the mornings.
And the inside. Antique furniture, elegant frames, carpeted floors,and there has to be at least two rooms to spare there. A kitchen and the usual rooms are there too of course, but Pidsley focus is only on one: the living room. His living room to be precise. Just like in the farmer's house, Pidsley has dictated everything in that room to be of his property at first glance.
Literally being dragged to the bathroom by his human's assistant for a shower without even putting a paw in the sofa first was...literally the worst kind of welcoming one could give to a cat in his new house, but besides of that, Pidsley is sure he's going to adapt just fine to the place.
oOo
Pidsley is clean, annoyed because the woman who bathed him succeeded on that(with a quite strange familiarity on how to avoid any scratches), back with no collar like in his first months in the farm, but clean nonetheless. That means the cat is now allowed to lean in any soft surface with no human shaking a finger at him.
The sofas are really soft, Pidsley instantly stretching over a cushion to knead the fabric with a purr is enough proof of that. But that won't be his sleeping place, he is soon informed hours later. Contrary to the farmer's house, here the cat is allowed to be on the human's room and even has a little bed for him there.
It's only the light scent of another animal in the bed that gets Pidsley to arch a brow—there weren't other pets there, why would a rich guy give him an already used bed?— It's a thing he almost stops to wonder about, but the fluff of the bed is comfy enough to make him forget about any questions.
That night there feels strange for him. Between the big room, unknown snores coming from the bed and the unfamiliarity of the whole situation, Pidsley is forced to leave his pride aside and look for his old collar he hid under the bed after rescuing it from the trash can.
In the dark, the cat stares at it, a thoughtful thumb barely brushing its surface before he finally decides to hug it and curl up further in that little bed.
The old smell of it is comforting and Pidsley is able to snore nicely the rest of the night.
oOo
Ignoring that one particular receivement on his first day, Pidsley can say he's enjoying himself so far.
His new human—which Pidsley nicknamed 'The golfist', as that seemed to be a hobby of his judging by the photos on the walls— adores him as well, not for anything the cat is being so spoiled with food and toys and anything he wants. Pidsley can identify a cat person anywhere and the golfist is clearly one.
There's even a servant for him. The moustached man has left her the task of fulfilling all of the cat's whims to his assistant, so now Pidsley has the brunette short-haired woman following him around in between her own work, giving him food and accommodating his pillow whenever he meowed.
However, as if fate wanted to keep a balance, with tons of whims there are also tons of rules to follow.
The golfist isn't as oblivious as the farmer, that was a disadvantage when Pidsley wanted to climb on top of the table when it was breakfast time for example. The man would quickly notice and chastise him to not do that.
But Pidsley has never been that obedient, and he would've taken advantage of the moments the man was busy with work already if it wasn't for the assistant being around so much. No climbing this, no lying there, no touching the food...it seems that after the initial shook of seeing he was able to walk in two, she has decided that a cat with human-like behaviour has to be really watched over.
Pidsley won't lie, he has his complaints, but it's still a life full of whims and no chaos made by noisy dogs and sheep that he can appreciate.
oOo
Pidsley can't say he has ever been in a good shape. Cats back in town and around the farm always had more ease to jump around places than him, and he's his tendency to steal snacks from the kitchen wherever he lived may have to do with that.
Now in these couple months with even more food, less exercise, and on top of it all being taken for a walk in a leash as if he was a dumb dog; it was to expect for this to happen. But Pidsley doesn't notice until one day he casually stands in two in front of the room's mirror and sees reflection. His new collar, also black but with little gems adorning it, is the same, his red hair is the same, his tummy...
With an analysing hum, Pidsley turns around a bit, then pats his stomach as to make sure if it's real. Noticing how soft it is is enough to confirm it: he has gained weight.
The golfist, wearing red pajamas and fluffy slippers, passes behind him yawning loudly. He stops midway at noticing what the cat is doing and gets closer. The thoughtful hum and that hand under his chin get Pidsley to narrows his eyes suspicious.
Later in the kitchen his suspicions end being true when for breakfast, the man wants to give the cat sitting at the table a salad. Pidsley can't do anything else but look at the plain tomato with lettuce he's being shown with disgust. The golfist's breakfast, a plate of beans not far from him in the wood surface, looks way more appetizing.
By simply putting his paw next to the plate, and imitating puppy eyes, the man's stoic look softly breaks after a long staring contest, and Pidsley is happy to receive a plate of beans too. Diet and weight, things the cat has never minded, are more than okey to remain forgotten for him.
oOo
Pidsley's strike of peaceful days in the house reached an end yesterday.
To make it short, he had decided to escape the house to explore past the gates—with no leash, thank you— It was just a walk, just like the ones he always had in the farm! How was Pidsley supposed to know that would nearly give a heart attack to the golfist both due to worry and for leaving the carpet full of muddy prints?
The aftermath didn't go well. Not content enough with dragging the poor cat to have a bath then and there, the human has been giving Pidsley the cold shoulder since that incident.
Considering the countless thing that happened in the farm, one would think he would've learned a thing or two about disobeying by now. But there he was known as someone who never learned, and though to this day Pidsley still considers that statement against him hypocritical coming from the sheep, that may seem about right considering what he's doing.
The studio of the golfist is the only no-animals place in the house. Since the golfist is outside and the assistant doesn't work today, Pidsley doesn't hesitate to take the chance of that one door being left open in the halfway to go tick the last room off his already-explored list.
The task end being less enjoyable than expected when the cat finds himself nervous doing something he shouldn't for once. Pidsley prefers to not recognize it, but being under constant surveillance and actually having faced consequences multiple times in both homes may have done something to his impetuous attitude.
Books, shelves with documents, a big window covered in frivolous curtains at the end of the room...though tempting to scratch them, Pidsley knows better than to get himself in even more trouble with the human right now, so he shifts his attention to the desk full of work stuff instead.
Careful to not step on any important papers while jumping over the wood surface, a photo frame lying flat against it is the only thing that feels out of place there. The drawer from where it probably came from is still open under it, indicating it had been looked at not long ago.
Curious, Pidsley picks it up. The golfist is in the picture, still porting a moustache but with nearly no white hair in it. There's a cat at his side, also redhead like Pidsley but with white and black spots here and there. That cat is standing over the desk too, handing over a pen with its mouth to the young man, who looks amused in return. They look...happy.
And Pidsley's stomach twist at feeling this scene with the picture way too familiar.
Connecting two and two isn't that difficult and a lot of things make sense at once. The scent in some places, how the staff handles having a pet around as if they're used to it, that weirdly shaped rock with a name carved in from the garden...the fact that a rich guy out of nowhere decided to adopt him.
The shock gets Pidsley to leave the room in silence, going directly to the sofa he now knows had been occupied by another cat in the past. Time passes as he simply lies there, with his mind made a messy yarn's ball of thoughts that don't look like they'll get clear any sooner.
By the time the golfist arrives Pidsley is still unable to tell what exactly is in his mind after that discovery. He just...he knows well how adopting a mascot after the pass of another one worked. He's not a replacement, the man doesn't treat him like one, and yet after finding out about this Pidsley feels...weird. There isn't much way to describe it.
The cat's internal monologue remains a mystery to the unaware human, he just sees his gloomy cat on the sofa and guesses he may be upset for the lack of attention. Pidsley hears the sound of a jacket being left aside and blinks at seeing the man sitting beside him. The calmness in his smile gives away that this is another case of human just being unable to stay mad at their pets for too long.
The golfist pats his lap then, thing which by instinct Pidsley obeys and goes to curl over it. As a much missed hand goes to pet his back, the cat finds his mind starting to have much calmer thoughts. It's still weird, but no matter how he sees it, Pidsley can't really see anything bad coming from this. He got a good(and full of wimps) home when he needed it, and the man got someone to help fill the hole that left the emptiness of a bed.
Under the soothing caresses, Pidsley finds himself closing his eyes as a comfy purr leaves him— This may be...good even, because it became a way to start over for both.
oOo
Starting over doesn't mean forgetting everything.
He never forgot his life in the old flat, neither the one in the farm(as irritant as some of the inhabitants were ha-most of the time).
The idea of never seeing anyone from his old life again has always been somewhere the back of his mind since he left, Pidsley just never delved into it. The couple from the flat was fond of him; Pidsley too he wouldn't lie(they were the first faces he saw after all), but knowing he was going to leave at any moment, none of the three got too attached to each other. The farmer on the other hand was another thing, there was an...official human-pet connection there, one that lasted long enough for Pidsley to struggle a bit with the idea of never seeing him again.
But that's just how life is, the cat has repeated that to himself more than once already. After so long he has almost accepted that was how things were going to be; so when one day he hears that loud voice, feels in his nose that familiar countryside smell, Pidsley spends a good moment wondering if those thoughts have turned into a hallucination.
He isn't, the cat realizes when he goes to the living room to check. The farmer is there in the entrance, looking up to the ceiling in awe and whistling softly at how elegant everything is. Pidsley doesn't notice himself walking towards the man to blink at his presence until he has to bite back his excited meowing.
The farmer does notice the cat though, and his first reaction is to smile broadly and release a soft 'hey!' while gesturing at his old pet with his arms as if expecting a receivement. Pidsley nearly, nearly gives him one, but forces himself to sit in his place instead.
The golfist returns to the room before anything confusion can happen. While going to retrieve some documents from the bookcase he elegantly gestures to the farmer to take a sit on the couch. Despite his previous rejection, Pidsley finds himself following the farmer to said place.
When they sit Pidsley curls up at the man's side, for no particular reason of course. The farmer smiles at that, holds a hand in front of the cat as if expecting him to sniff it.
It's an odd thing humans did with animals, either thinking it establishes trust or to see if they are being recognized apparently. Pidsley can't help but arch a brow at how weird that is, but still sniffs when he feels a scent. Between the smells of grass, dirt and other thing from the farm, the most prominent being one of a dog gets Pidsley to frown at realizing the man has been petting Bitzer not long ago. Without thinking he hisses and turns his head, clearly offended.
Disappointment is in the farmer's whole being at that, from the sad face, to the hand dropping to the sigh that gets Pidsley to grimace a bit. 'Good', Pidsley forces himself to think.
1...2...Pidsley counts 3 seconds before the facade breaks and he places a paw over the human's hand. He still pretends to be grumpy to keep his dignity, but can't really deny he wants some petting. The farmer happily complies and Pidsley practically melts in the cushions as soon as that hand goes to scratch that one spot under his neck that the man still seems to remember.
oOo
What the farmer and the golfist relationship is it's still a mystery to Pidsley.
Those two have kept in touch from time to time, mostly through some of the many business calls his busy human receives weekly. By now Pidsley can identify when it's the farmer who's at the other side of the line when the topics shift to others apart from that. And every time the golfist answers that one question while looking at his cat with a smile, Pidsley will stretch to try to look even more comfy on the sofa— He's doing just fine, thanks for asking.
There's the really occasional hangout to play golf too, so even if those two aren't friends, it's obvious things grew past simple business.
Pidsley is content enough with that, because even if actual visits from the farmer may not happen that often, seeing the farmer once in a while is more than he could've ever ask for, and the petting the cat always receives in those visits show the feeling is mutual.
oOo
Revisiting the farm isn't an idea Pidsley has wondered about from time to time since the business reunions started. Not at all, never.
But if he hypothetically did, he would blame the farmer appearing there for being a walking reminder of that old place. There's no reason to want to return really, there he would just see a bunch of annoying animals, a green field, the...house...with the homey living room and that rusty yet comfy sofa...
Okay, nothing bad to say about the house; but again, Pidsley has no reasons to want to return. So what if he saw that map over the table indicating the golfist was going to pay Mossy Bottom Farm a visit the next day? What if his first thought was 'what if I went?' at that moment? None of that means anything.
Pidsley insists and insists on that last statement being the only truth until he finds himself following the golfist to the car the day after. The man, hands behind his back, stops to arch a brow at the cat.
Pidsley has managed to be allowed to go out(with no leash)under the condition of not going beyond the gardens. This is just asking to twist that rule a bit; Pidsley has lived in the farm long enough to know how to avoid mud or anything dangerous any ways, he'll be fine!
When the cat gets in the cat, sitting right next to the map in the seat, the arched brow of the golfist changes to a knowing look. Pidsley sees the rewards for following rules as the man smiles and gets in the driving seat without further word.
Despite his insistence to go, Pidsley feels nervous on the way to his old home.
oOo
When he steps out of the red car, the familiar smell of grass, compost, animals and everything a farm has hits hard on the cat's memory. Pidsley can't help but stand still in all four to look around a little to long to be seen as casual.
Thre's the same house, the same road, the same sheep looking at him behind the stone wa- oh.
At their surprised staring, Pidsley glances between them then down at his own paws. He looks clean from a recent bath, has an elegant collar, and a bit more weight since last time indicating a life of luxury and whims. An unexpected sigh for the sheep certainly.
Biting back a snicker of superiority, Pidsley simply gives them a side glance before following the golfist with exaggeratedly elegant steps to the house.
His surprise visit at the farm is happily received by the farmer. Pidsley observes the insides of the house noticing it looks mostly the same too, esides of some things either moved or replaced here and there. The apparent peacefulness being quickly interrupted by an animal running around however, that seems to be a habit that has stayed to this day. Pidsley jumps and hisses when a dog carrying a handful of paper that block his view nearly steps on him.
Bitzer stops, tilting his head to see a frowning Pidsley standing in the middle of the hallway. To the following awkward silence, the farmer has no better idea than placing a hand on the dog's shoulder and gesturing at him as if asking Pidsley if they remembered each other. Both Pidsley and Bitzer grimace at the oh-so-still-present inability to read the mood of the human.
No answer from either animal comes, so the farmer simply shrugs and takes the papers with him. Now alone in the hallway, all Bitzer can think of to break the awkwardness is hold the doorknob of the main door and nod in acknowledgment at the cat. Pidsley looks at the entrance to the living room, where that dear spot on the sofa next to the farmer is, then looks back to return the gesture.
And so despite having being so easy to put a paw to make the dog trip, both pets go their separate ways without causing any conflict.
oOo
The farm definitely has to have a curse, something that provokes an unexpected twist of events to ruin any normal plans to anyone who stepped there, because the golfist received an urgent call all of sudden. Business emergency, in a place that wasn't in the way to leave the cat back home.
The farmer doesn't mind having the cat for a couple hours there, neither does the golfist as long as Pidsley stays out of the dirt. Pidsley can't say he likes the idea of another bath either so, his temporal stay gets settled in just a few promises.
Between the various activities to do, the farmer and the cat decide for a dance session, for old times sake. Pidsley is still excited for it, but the box with the steps guide and records is nowhere to be seen, so he has to wait. In the meantime, he goes out to walk in-two around the field when lying on the sofa looses its fun.
There Pidsley looks at everything and everywhere in hopes of finding something of entertainment until the farmer calls him. The orange sky and the empty field indicate it's late, and so near the junk pile there's nothing but grass, trash and- a lamb?
Precisely, the lamb of the group is there digging in the junk. He doesn't notice Pidsley until, after smiling at finding the hosepipe he had been looking for, the kid leaps away from the pile only to stumble upon the cat. Pidsley has to bit back a hiss— If the kid cries the flock won't stop pestering him, and he didn't even do anything!
The lamb doesn't seem to react badly besides of flinching and looking at his lower hooves shyly. Suddenly seeing him walking in two without losing struggling, taller and with no pacifier any more; it all feels like a sudden reminder of how long it has been since Pidsley left.
The lamb's mother's tendency to not notice her kid running away however, seems to still be the same as always.
Pidsley isn't sure if the kid remembers him or not, but it's still the sheep less likely to hold a grudge against him, so he takes the chance to ask. Meowing a question, Pidsley brings a paw to his chest and holds the other at his side, imitating a dance pose. The lamb hums thoughtfully behind a hoof before smiling and nodding.
At the high-pitched bleat and hoof gesturing at the cat to follow, Pidsley does so thankful that for once a sheep isn't giving him problems.
oOo
He spoke way too soon.
Not only did the lamb direct him to the barn where one could clearly hear from outside that the residents weren't sleeping at all, but he also opened the door without warning, instantly earning all the sheep's eyes to be on the cat. Pidsley definitely prefers to return to the awkward silence in the hallway over the unnecessary dramatic gasps.
There's a construction in progress behind all the wooly animals. Pidsley widens his eyes at the clumsy-looking slides connecting from the loft to various platforms being built by sheep here and there in the barn. It all ends in the floor near the door where the lamb is excitedly giving the hosepipe to Bitzer(responsible sheepdog as always, isn't he?). Realizing there's water involved only gives Pidsley more reasons to leave.
And he's about to, until he sees the lamb return and take a brown box hidden under a blanket on the floor. Pidsley recognizes the couple dancing in the front of it, instantly goes to take it so he can leave, but a hoof stepping on the top of the box stops him. When looking up, Pidsley isn't surprised to see it's Shaun she one crossing his arms and arching a brow at him.
While the lamb's mom is quick to take her son away from there, Pidsley draws back and arches a brow as well. Shaun doesn't look angry, just...expectant of something the cat isn't sure what it is. It better not be an apology! The records are the farmer's and not theirs, he isn't going to say sorry for returning them to their place.
A simple glance at the mess of woods and metal scattered all over the place is enoughg for Pidsley to guess the actual reason. He huffs and rolls his eyes at the looks of the other animals— He doesn't have time for that old rivalry thing from months(heck, more than a year now) ago.
Sighting, the cat points with his thumg between himself and the farmhouse in the distance, then brings a paw to his mouth to do a zipping motion to explain he won't say anything. When Shaun gaze softens in genuine confusion, Pidsley quickly meows to avoid a misinterpretation— But-
One of his lower paws goes to drag the box towards him, getting no resistance from the sheep. This time the cat points between the box and the house, then at Shaun. With a last meow, he crosses his arms in an X and shakes his head— They won't interfere with the dance session for the rest of the night.
In the background the flock all exchanges glances, some cringing at the idea of non-stop music and other murmuring their thought, but they all seem to prefer that over having to hide everything they just built. After a moment of thought, Shaun ends nodding to agree.
Both stretch paw and hoof to seal the deal, and with that everyone waves their goodbyes as Pidsley leaves the barn with the box.
On his way back the cat can't help but think...how easy that was to get, both the box and the sheep not bothering him. With just a simple negotiation.
Maybe, or maybe not, a lot of problems would've been resolved just but having more of those.
But there's no point in wondering about that now any ways.
oOo
The dance session is long and fun. Without having to worry about interruptions, Pidsley has a great time leaving the 'elegant cat' mould for one night, and the farmer seems to enjoy moving to the lively music just as much as last time as well.
After a while, during a slow song in which Pidsley is carried to dance a waltz, he looks for a moment to the night outside the window. If his ear stays in the right angle, the distant sound of laughing and water running coming from the barn can be heard. The others are having fun as well.
And now that neither party is bothering the other with it, that's fine. Food and petting and calmness while spending time with his human(s) was and still is all Pidsley ever wanted. And he has it, right now, and later too when he returns home.
It's precisely during the trip back home, with the wind outside the car caressing his face, that Pidsley realizes it. Despite setbacks and changes and moments where he didn't know what was going to be of him, having all that is his only plan that succeeded.
It's may not have been in the way expected, it may have taken him three lives, but he won.
He finally won.
oOo
Months later, in a quiet morning in the living room of the golfist's house, Pidsley would see a peculiar reminder of that: the farmer in TV, under the pseudonym of 'Mr. X', in The Big City and riding a yellow horse that obviously had to be the sheep in disguise.
First he choked from surprise on the grapes he was eating of course. But after that, all the cat could think about was that indeed, being far enough to not being dragged into that craziness, definitely proved that he won.
The end
oOo
Aaa okay let's see how can I keep this short. The deleted scenes were mostly from Pidsley's life in his new house, which were cut short because I felt focusing too much on it without referencing the farm would get boring quick and most conflicts there weren't even neccesary. The deleted scenes where:
1)Pidsley recreating a Lilo & Stitch scene(the one with Nani seeing Stitch opening the fridge) at realizing the assistant and the cleaning lady aren't aware he can't walk in two(lol)
2) Expanding more on the issue with him having less freedom at being walked with a leash only and other 'elegant cat' things. This would connect with showing more of his relationship with the assistant since, just like Pidsley didn't like being given rules, the woman wasn't happy having to take care of him either. She was like another Bitzer in his life in a way(including clumsiness handling so much work and all), but these two actually ended respecting each other and there was even a scene where she let him sleep on her lap to comfort him.
3) A small conflict where the golfist is very busy with work for some time and doesn't pay proper attention to Pidsley. This scalated to the point of the cat fearing he was going to be given away again, until he realized it was all because of a bussiness emergency. Once that's over things went back to normal again and Pidsley was glad.
4)The scene with the flock and Bitzer was going to be much shorter; literally just staring and some gestures to say they won't bother each other and that's it. Obviously I preferred to explore that more. I never planned for Pidsley to have a redemption perse in my fic, but more show him calming down due to mistakes made, living under more strict rules, AND the mother of change: time. Pidsley didn't end being the most well-behaved character. He and Bitzer and the flock didn't magically become friends at the end. I went for a more realistic approach by ending things happy but also neutral enough, and I like this kind of ending is fitting for Pidsley and his relationship with the rest.
This ain't short but oh well. Any ways, if you read all that then see you guys in the next fic! That will be...hopefully this year.