Suddenly a voice purred. "You ought to ask Magical Mister Mistoffelees, the original conjuring cat!"
Pouncival turned the light around, shining it on the owner of the voice. Tugger was lounged out above the car, acting calm and collected, like his father hadn't just been kidnapped by his deranged brother.
Munkustrap knew better though, he knew how worried his brother was, just like he was. Munkustrap sat up, with Demeter's help, listening as his brother described all of Misto's magical feats, which were pretty true.
He was worried though, that his nephew might not believe in himself enough to pull this off and of what the backlash of the Jellicles would be.
Munkustrap couldn't help but smile and join in when the Jellicles began singing about Misto. He leapt up onto the tyre, watching as Misto suddenly appeared in the clearing, his fur sparkling madly. Misto looked towards his sparking paws, carefully waving them about, before thrusting them above his head.
"Presto!" He cried, and with that, the lights around the clearing turned on once more.
Tugger grinned and continued to sing about his nephew.
"Oh, well I never, was there ever
A cat so clever as magical
Mr. Mistoffelees"
His manner is vague and aloof
You would think there was nobody shyer
But his voice has been heard on the roof
When he was curled up by the fire
And he's sometimes been heard by the fire
When he was about on the roof
At least we all heard that somebody purred
Which is incontestable proof
Of his singular magical powers
And I've known the family to call
Him in from the garden for hours
When he was asleep in the hall
And not long ago
This phenomenal cat
Produced seven kittens
Right out of a hat
Misto pulled out a sparkling red blanket from the boot of TSE1, seemingly conjuring out of thin air, before he looked around, his purple-green eyes glowing slightly. He pointed to Cassandra, who stretched out gracefully as she settled herself down onto the pipe. Misto flicked the blanket over her, with Skimble and Asparagus helping to cover her, before he stepped towards her, circling his sparking paws over the top of her.
Munkustrap leaned forward, eyes widening, as he noticed the shape under the blanket twitching and seemingly growing in size.
Misto waved his paws over the wriggling blanket twice more before he reached over, grabbing a corner and pulling it off, revealing the cat underneath.
The Jellicles fell silent.
It was Old Deuteronomy.
Munkustrap felt immense pride welling up in his chest as he looked at his young nephew, who seemed to breathe out, his posture relaxing slightly. Tugger stepped forward, brown eyes wide in amazement, as he took his father's paw.
And we'll all say
"Oh, well I never, was there ever
A cat so clever as magical
Mr. Mistoffelees"
Misto beamed at Tugger's words as he turned and ran towards Old Deuteronomy, leaping into his arms. Old Deuteronomy hugged the young Tom close, nuzzling him, as the Jellicles sang around them, praising young Mistoffelees. Misto leapt down from Old Deuteronomy's arm, racing to the edge of the clearing and reaching out his paw. From the shadows, a sleek brown paw took his own, and Misto pulled Cassandra, safe and sound, back into the clearing.
Munkustrap moved away from where he had been nuzzling his father, moving towards his nephew. He pulled the young Tom close into his arms, hugging him tightly.
"I am so proud of you!" He whispered into Misto's ear. Misto purred loudly as he hugged Munkustrap tightly.
Tugger's low voice interrupted their moment. "Hate to break this up, but Misto needs his big finish," Munkustrap let his nephew go, and Tugger gestured for Misto to go to the tyre.
"And you and Lonz can go in front of the tyre for this." Tugger ordered him. Munkustrap lifted an eyebrow, smirking, but did so all the same, pulling Alonzo with him. Tugger leapt up to stand on the pipe beside the tyre.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the Magical!" Misto turned at this point, paws held by his waist.
"The Marvellous!" Misto gave a swift bow.
"Mister Mistoffelees!" Misto leapt off the tyre, into a split jump, before he landed and threw himself into a forward roll, stopping near Munkus and Alonzo, who took his feet and lifted him up into the air.
The Jellicles cheered as they surrounded him. Misto beamed as he looked around, he looked down at Munkustrap, who smiled back at him, proudly. Misto suddenly paused, lifting his paws into the air, a silence falling over the Jellicles. He looked towards Old Deuteronomy, who was settling down on an upturned tin. Munkustrap slowly lowered Misto down, understanding that it was time for the Jellicle choice.
Suddenly, a soft, melodic, sweet voice echoed across the clearing.
'Daylight, see the dew on the sunflower
And a rose that is fading
Roses wither away
Like the sunflower I yearn to turn my face to the dawn
I am waiting for the day'
Munkustrap watched as Jemima sunk back down to sit on the piece of wood behind the tyre before he looked to Old Deuteronomy, who nodded tiredly.
Munkustrap lifted his arms up now, the Jellicles looking towards him.
"And now, Old Deuteronomy just before dawn, through a silence you feel you can cut with a knife, announces the cat who can now be reborn and come back to a different Jellicle life." He sang gently. The Jellicles all huddled around Old Deuteronomy, paws reaching.
Munkustrap's ears twitched when he heard movement behind them. He turned and saw Grizabella limping into the clearing. The Jellicles all moved away, some hissing as they passed the old Queen. Munkustrap moved so he was standing by his father's side, his paw on his shoulder. Old Deuteronomy gently gestured for Grizabella to continue.
The battered Queen stepped up, looking around at the different Jellicles, at her nieces who had their backs to her.
'Memory, turn your face to the moonlight
Let your memory lead you
Open up, enter in
If you find there the meaning of what happiness is
Then a new life will begin
Memory, all alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
I was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again
Burnt out ends of smokey days
The stale cold smell of morning
The streetlamp dies, another night is over
Another day is dawning
Daylight, I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I mustn't give in
When the dawn comes tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begin'
Grizabella fell to the ground and Munkustrap stepped forward to help her, but Old Deuteronomy stopped him, giving a small shake of his head as he gestured to Jemima, who was once again rising to her feet, her moon-lit eyes glowing.
'Sunlight, through the trees in the summer
Endless masquerading'
Grizabella looked up then, her rougher voice harmonizing with Jemima's sweet voice.
'Like a flower as the dawn is breaking
The memory is fading'
Grizabella shot to her feet, the other Jellicles finally turning around to look at the Queen. Jemima slowly sunk back down, the glow behind her eyes disappearing once more.
'Touch me, it's so easy to leave me
All alone with the memory
Of my days in the sun
If you touch me you'll understand what happiness is
Look, a new day has begun'
Grizabella turned to walk away, before she paused, her paw reached out behind her hopefully. Victoria slowly lifted to her feet, almost gliding towards the elder Queen, before she paused and looked back at Old Deuteronomy and Munkustrap. Munkustrap gave a smile and a small nod, as Old Deuteronomy just gestured for her to go on.
Victoria moved forward, her paw reaching until she was able to place into Grizabella's outstretched paw.
Munkustrap could see the reaction visible in Grizabella's posture, as she just relaxed, relieved to be accepted once more. She smiled as she turned and looked to Victoria, who nuzzled her paws.
The Jellicles, who had once cast her aside, now crowded around her, wanting to touch her paws and show her love and acceptance. Old Deuteronomy nudged Munkustrap, breaking him out of his musings, and gave a smile in Grizabella's direction.
"She's your choice?" Munkustrap murmured. Old Deuteronomy nodded.
"Yes, it is time for her to have a happier life." He murmured back. Munkustrap nodded and stepped forward, stepping up to meet Grizabella. She stopped in front of him and stared at him, unsure. Munkustrap smiled gently as he offered his paws. Grizabella smiled back as she took them, squeezing them gently.
"You've grown into an amazing Tom." She whispered. Munkustrap just blinked, shocked.
"T-Thank you." He managed to stammer before Old Deuteronomy took her paws and led her towards the tyre, the Jellicles following, singing.
Munkustrap ended up standing on TSE1, watching as Grizabella ascended to the Heaviside Layer.
His heart beat hard in his chest as emotion threatened to overwhelm him. It had been quite the night.
From Grizabella returning, which brought old feelings of hurt to the surface, to Macavity's reappearance and subsequent fight with him, to Old Deuteronomy being kidnapped, to his nephew managing to bring him back and once again being thrust into the spotlight, loved by the Jellicles, to Grizabella's ascent to the Heaviside Layer.
Munkustrap blinked, dazed, as he watched the Jellicles begin to disperse. He gave a sigh, wincing as the wounds from his earlier fight with Macavity began to make themselves known.
"Munk, Munkus, you alright?" Tugger's worried voice came from his right.
"I think the wounds are starting to affect him." Tantomile's concerned voice piped up from in front of him. Munkustrap's knees buckled suddenly. Paws quickly landed on his arms, holding him up.
"Whoa, whoa, easy, Munkus, you're alright!" Tugger reassured him as he was slowly lowered down to sit on the boot. Munkustrap blinked and looked around, seeing Cori, Tantomile, Misto and Tugger surrounding him. He gave a weak smile.
"Sorry, got a bit light-headed." He mumbled.
"Perhaps we should get Jenny to look over your wounds properly." Tantomile suggested, her paw lightly tracing the deep scratches and bite marks from the earlier fight with Macavity. Munkustrap gave a small nod. Tugger and Misto left to go seek out the Gumbie Cat.
"That is not all that is bothering you, is it?" Cori asked as soon as Tugger and Misto got out of earshot. Munkustrap sighed.
He could never hide anything from those two.
He looked to Tantomile as she took his paw in her own.
"No, I was getting overwhelmed with everything that had happened tonight, all of the emotions that it brought up." Munkustrap admitted. "And I am worried."
"About Macavity?" Cori questioned. Munkustrap gave a nod.
"You saw what he was like tonight, and now that Misto managed to save Dad from right under his nose…"
"You fear he will come back for Misto." Tantomile finished. Munkustrap gave a nod, wincing as pain tore through his back.
"You know we will never allow that to happen." Cori promised him. "Besides, I think Macavity may be feeling a bit of pride that Misto managed to do that." Munkustrap gave a weak smile at that.
Jenny hurried up to them then, worriedly asking, "Oh, honey, are you alright?!"
Munkustrap gave a small nod as Jenny checked over his wounds.
"I have the things I need to treat all of these in the infirmary," She murmured. "Tugger, Cori, could you help him to my den please?" The two Toms nodded and grabbed an arm each, pulling them over their shoulders and supporting Munkustrap between them.
As Munkustrap was led to the infirmary, he caught sight of angry dark brown eyes watching from the shadows. They quickly disappeared as quickly as he had spotted them.
Munkustrap suddenly got a heavy feeling in his stomach, like something bad was going to happen.
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Hopefully I haven't made you wait too long, but life has been a bit busy.
Anyway, here's the next one!
Hopefully won't be too long until the next update!
Thanks to those who reviewed,
Please read and review!
Love,
HGP!