Munkustrap cast his green eyes over the clearing, watching as the Jellicles gathered around, chatting excitedly to one another.
It was finally the night of the Jellicle Ball and at the moment, all was going well. Munkustrap stayed perched on the rocking chair, watching over the Jellicles, as the sun began to set and the Jellicles began to slink off to their positions for the first song. Munkustrap glanced to the side as Alonzo leapt up to sit beside him.
"Everyone is in their positions, Munkus," Alonzo announced. Munkustrap gave a nod, smiling.
"Thanks, Alonzo," He murmured. Alonzo grinned, clapped his shoulder, before he leapt off of the chair, going to his position. Munkustrap glanced up at the darkening sky and smiled as the excitement began to build. He gracefully leapt off of the chair, landing on the boot of TSE1 before he slipped behind it, waiting for the Jellicle Moon to tell give him the sign that it was time.
His ears twitched as he heard Demeter slinking around in the clearing before he gave a small smile, clambering out onto the boot, looking around.
The ball had begun.
Everything had so far gone well and they had just reached the end of Jennyanydot's new song, which Munkustrap had made for her. Suddenly, there was an excited scream.
"Tugger!" Munkustrap rolled his eyes as Tugger suddenly appeared, grinning smugly.
"Meow," He purred, winking at Munkustrap as Munkustrap led the affronted Jenny away.
"Of course, he makes a song for himself, I should have seen that coming," Munkustrap muttered to Jenny, who nodded in agreement. Munkustrap quickly headed back to stand on the tyre, watching as Tugger danced with the kittens.
"Oh, that lad is trouble," Skimble sighed, shaking his head, as he pointed to Tugger. Munkustrap looked at him, nodding in agreement.
"Not much I can do though," Munkustrap murmured, looking back to the dancing. He rolled his eyes as he saw Alonzo slinking in to the action, rolling his hips, alongside Tumblebrutus and Pouncival. Even Tantomile was dancing with Cassandra, but she threw him a wink and a smile, making him smile in return.
Coricopat was around the edge of the clearing, near the oven and Demeter, watching Tugger and shaking his head.
Munkustrap smirked as he watched Misto suddenly run up to stand beside Tugger.
"The Rum Tugger is a terrible bore!" Misto sang, smirking, Tugger shooting him a look, before he slipped away.
The song continued, with Bombalurina joining in and Tugger bumping her away, before he danced around the clearing, running amok. Jenny and Jelly were shocked as he slipped between them, kissing their cheeks, before he ran to a stop in front of the kittens sitting in front of the tyre, rolling his hips and making the queen-kits faint. Munkustrap just rolled his eyes.
He winced as the queen-kits surrounded Tugger and began screaming. Tumblebrutus, Alonzo and even Mistoffelees were attempting to copy Tugger's hip movements, while Cori sat with Tantomile, both of them watching closely. Etcetera screaming so much that Tugger shoved his tail into her mouth, before blowing her a kiss, making her faint.
He watched as the others joined into the dancing, with Jelly, Jenny and Skimble running about, trying to stop the kittens dancing. Munkustrap couldn't stop the chuckle that escaped his lips as Coricopat danced alongside Tantomile and Misto. He shook his head at Tugger, amused, as Tugger leapt up onto the boot.
Munkustrap frowned as he saw Tugger's demeanour suddenly change, his face dropping into a scowl as he pointed towards the oven, before fluffing up his mane and stalking away. Munkustrap looked around and saw a dishevelled Grizabella limping into the clearing. Misto was curiously edging closer to her, sniffing at her.
Over-protectiveness surged through Munkustrap as he remembered how Grizabella had hated him, just because of his past. He wouldn't allow her to hurt his nephew in the same way she did to him. He leapt down from the tyre, throwing his arm out in front of Misto's chest and pushing him back, the surprised Tuxedo Tom moving back. Grizabella looked at him, her eyes widening in surprise as she recognized him. She stared at him before she hobbled across the clearing, Munkustrap shadowing her moves closely. Pouncival had scratched her, causing her to stumble back, Munkustrap glared at him sternly, indicating for him to move away, then Cassandra slunk in front of her, throwing her a dirty look.
They were casting Grizabella aside, they knew how she deserted Demeter and Bomba when they had needed her the most, how she had hated Munkustrap.
Demeter had stepped in front of Munkustrap after Grizabella had spat something at him, he hadn't really been listening, just being mindful of the surrounding Jellicles.
Soon after Demeter and Bomba had sung about Grizabella, telling the unknowing Jellicles of her and her want for the life of glamour, that made her desert her family, the other Jellicles crowded in, singing with them. Grizabella had then hobbled away.
The ball had begun to run smoothly once more, that was until the first Macavity scare.
Munkustrap gave the signal for everyone to hide.
He knew Macavity had promised to come back, and he knew it was just like his brother to choose the Jellicle Ball to come back and cause havoc due to the effect it would have.
Munkustrap looked around the clearing, looking for any sign of Macavity before his ears twitched, picking up a noise. He quickly headed off towards it, before he stopped, hearing a familiar high-pitched giggle.
"Of course." He sighed. He knew that had been too low-key for Macavity. It looked like Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer wanted their own song. Munkustrap decided to let them have it, for now, and to do a quick head-check of the Jellicles.
He smiled and nodded to the Jellicles as he passed them, reassuring them that all was okay.
"Hey, Munk, should we get them back?" Alonzo asked as he walked up to him, grinning. Munkustrap contemplated that for a moment, before smiling, nodding. Alonzo laughed and went to tell the Jellicles the plan.
When Mungo and Teazer finished their song, the Jellicles all crept out. Munkustrap and Alonzo grabbed their loot bags, holding them high above their heads, while Misto and Plato stopped them from making a quick get-away. Mungo and Teazer quickly darted onto the boot of the TSE1, escaping the Jellicles, especially Jennyanydots with her disapproving gaze.
"And there's nothing at all to be done about that!" The Jellicles sang, mimicking their song, as Munkus and Alonzo threw the bags over the top of the TSE1, making Mungo and Teazer pout as they soared over their heads.
Munkustrap's attention was brought back to Misto as he suddenly looked around, Coricopat and Tantomile following suit moments later, seeming to sense something or someone.
"Old Deuteronomy?" Misto asked, looking towards the twins for clarification. The twins breathed in and smiled.
"I believe it is Old Deuteronomy," They sang. Misto touched Munkustrap's paw, questioning, and Munkustrap nodded. Misto grinned and hurried away to go retrieve his grand-father and accompany him the rest of the way into the clearing.
Munkustrap and Tugger sang about their father, giving each other a small grin, as Misto led their father back into the main clearing, all of the kittens scrambling forward to hug him tightly.
"And now that the Jellicle Leader is here," Munkustrap sang, looking towards his father as he settled down on the tyre. "Jellicle Cats can all rejoice!"
The rest of the ball went okay, with the exception of Tugger and Admetus messing up the Aweful Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles, much to Munkustrap's horror. Then there was another Macavity scare, just the sound of his laughter echoing through the clearing, but Old Deuteronomy reassured the Jellicles it was okay and they began the main dance of the ball.
Munkustrap sat on the steps on the tyre as the mating dance began, watching as Plato and Victoria nuzzled one another, before Plato lifted her into the air. He glanced around as paws rested on his shoulders. He smiled up at his dad, nuzzling at his paws.
"You've done a great job, Munkus," Deuteronomy praised him quietly, glancing at the Jellicles, as they slowly began to roll towards one another, Plato and Victoria having completed their pas de deux.
He spotted Tantomile lying beside Cori, not having laid with anyone else. His heart swelled at that. Munkustrap had told her if she had wanted to go with someone else, he would understand since as Protector he had to stand aside during the mating dance. She had just smiled and softly pecked his lips, silencing him.
"I'll only lay with you." She had replied.
Deuteronomy's paws gently squeezed his shoulders, Munkustrap blushed, fidgeting slightly.
"The Pekes and the Pollicles didn't really go the way I had wanted it to," Munkustrap admitted, making Deuteronomy chuckle.
"Nonsense, my boy, it was the best I have seen in my many years!" He smiled, gently patting Munkustrap's cheek. Munkustrap smiled and went to reply when he noticed Coricopat and Tantomile suddenly sit up, looking around. Misto followed soon after, his paw shaking as he tried to detect a presence. Skimble sat up moments later, sniffing the air, trying to find the intruder. Munkustrap shot to his feet as he suddenly caught the scent which did not belong. The Jellicles all shot to their feet when Misto suddenly lit up a certain area, revealing Grizabella standing there. Alonzo ran over, snarling at her and chasing her away.
The dance finished in a frenzy and the Jellicles collapsed, exhausted. They all settled down for a small rest as Old Deuteronomy sang about happiness and the past.
Munkustrap caught sight of Cori and Tantomile moving in his peripheral vision and looked around, finding Cori lying hunched over, his arm pushed back behind him, his paw twitching and his eyes glowing. Tantomile put her paw in his, as she took Jemima's paw, lifting into a kneeling position, her eyes also glowing.
It was when Munkustrap saw Jemima's eyes glowing slightly that he understood Tobias when he had said that Jemima would have a deep connection to the twins now after using their blood.
They all seemed to be getting a message sent to them from the Everlasting as Jemima's clear, sweet voice suddenly echoed over the clearing.
Munkustrap listened to her words, and the meaning behind it, about putting the past behind them and looking forward to the new day, and new beginnings.
The rest of the ball went along rather smoothly, until after Skimbleshanks song when Macavity finally made his appearance.
Munkustrap stood up straight, looking around for the mystery cat while the kittens crowded around his legs, frightened.
Suddenly, Macavity appeared, laughing evilly. It felt like they had been put under a spell, none of the Jellicles could move and were forced to watch in horror as Macavity's followers suddenly grabbed Old Deuteronomy, dragging him away. Macavity gave another chilling laugh before he followed his followers.
Once he had disappeared, the spell was broken, leaving a worried Munkustrap darting after them, desperate to find his father.
The Queens, and the younger Toms, stayed behind as the Toms ran after Macavity, trying to save their leader.
"Alonzo, take Plato and Addie, search the right side of the yard!" Munkustrap ordered. "Skimble, take Asp and Tugger and search the left side!" The two nodded and ran off.
"Cori, Jerrie, Misto, you're with me!" Coricopat, Misto and Jerrie nodded, following Munkustrap as they ran through the middle of the yard, keeping alert as they searched for their beloved leader.
Munkustrap suddenly skidded to a stop, nose working furiously.
"What is it, Munk?" Cori panted, looking around.
"Macavity's scent has broken off from the main group, it looks like he's doubling back…" Munkustrap's eyes widened as he looked to the three.
"Back to the clearing." Misto finished, eyes wide in fear.
"Cori, send a message to the others, tell them to get back to the clearing, now!" Munkustrap ordered as they turned and ran back towards the clearing. They met up with the others just outside the main clearing, hearing Bomba and Demeter singing with the rest of the Queens.
"I'm gonna take Misto, I've got an idea!" Tugger breathed suddenly, grabbing Misto's paw and taking off. Munkustrap and the other Toms entered back into the clearing. Demeter clutched onto Munkustrap fearfully, looking around. Munkustrap spun around as Macavity appeared next to the tyre, indicating to something behind them. Munkustrap glanced behind them, seeing Old Deuteronomy being led into the clearing.
He let the others go to him as he went to investigate where Macavity had been standing moments ago.
Something didn't feel right.
That Macavity didn't really look like Macavity and there was no way he'd just return Deuteronomy like that, there was no point made in doing so.
He turned around when he heard hissing and saw Demeter racing at the other Jellicles, moving them away from Deuteronomy. He leapt down to investigate, watching as she suddenly leapt onto Deuteronomy's back, making them both spin around.
Munkustrap hissed in surprise as the disguise fell off and revealed Macavity, a very angry Macavity.
Macavity gripped Demeter's arms, dragging her away threateningly, causing Munkustrap to run forward, grabbing her legs and lifting her into the air. Alonzo ran forward, taking the frightened Queen from them both and running her to safety. Munkustrap hissed warningly, claws out as he faced Macavity. Macavity just snarled, his gold eyes dark, before he struck out, catching Munkustrap across the face.
Munkustrap hit back, loathing the fact he had to fight his own brother, but his paw was being forced by Macavity's actions.
"Where did you take Deuteronomy, Macavity?!" Munkustrap snarled as he latched onto the ginger fiend. Macavity just laughed coldly as he clawed Munkustrap's back.
"Look at you, the mighty Protector!" Macavity laughed as he and Munkustrap traded blows with one another. "You won't get him back! He'll pay for exiling me!"
"You left him no choice!" Munkustrap yelled, catching Macavity across the face. "You murdered two Jellicles, it broke his heart to do it, but you left him no choice!" Macavity snarled and clawed him across the chest. Munkustrap fell back before getting to his feet, lunging at Macavity. They both fell to the ground, snarling at one another, clawing and biting viciously.
Munkustrap was getting tired, starting to feel all of his wounds, but he had to keep fighting, he had to protect the others, he had to save his dad.
Macavity leapt to his feet, with Munkustrap following his lead moments later, though a bit sluggishly. They locked claws as they fought each other again, but Macavity managed to grab the upper paw, grabbing Munkustrap and throwing him over his shoulder.
Munkustrap landed heavily on the ground, giving a groan as he caught a heavy kick to the stomach, which sent him skidding across the ground.
His vision was wavering, but he could see Alonzo step in to fight Macavity.
"Easy, Munkus, easy, we're here," He heard Tantomile say softly, a paw gently touching his head as he felt his wounds being cleaned by others.
"We will protect you." Munkustrap could see others leaping in to fight now, from young Pouncival to Jellylorum. Macavity was soon overwhelmed and darted up the junk pile.
"This isn't over!" He yelled at them, before the lights flashed and lightning struck, the clearing turning dark.
Then suddenly, a light shined across the clearing. Pouncival had grabbed a light and was shining it around on the Jellicles, before he pointed it towards where Macavity had been standing.
"Macavity's not there!" A whisper ran across the clearing. Munkustrap struggled to his knees as Demeter crawled over, thankfully nuzzling him. Munkustrap gave a weak smile in return before looking sadly at the Jellicles.
Macavity was gone, a few of them were wounded, and they had no idea where Old Deuteronomy was.
Munkustrap felt his throat close in worry, Tantomile and Cori's paws resting on his shoulders to reassure him. Macavity was angry at his father and had taken him for revenge.
Who knew what the twisted, revenge-driven Tom would do to him.
"We have to find Old Deuteronomy," The morose cry echoed across the clearing.
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Sorry it's taken so long, but I've been working, and then it was Christmas, and now I'm sick .
Thanks to those who reviewed!
Please read and review!
Love,
HGP!